U.S. Department of Justice 

Office of Community Oriented Policing Services 

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Community Oriented Policing Services logoRedeployment 
www.cops.usdoj.gov

Fact Sheet

What is Redeployment?

Redeployment is when sworn officers, currently employed by 
the grantee law enforcement agency, become available to 
participate in community policing as a direct result of the 
purchase of technology or equipment or the hiring of civilian 
support staff. 

Example – Technology 

The 10 officers at the Neelyburg Police Department used to 
spend an average of two hours per shift at the office typing 
reports. Neelyburg was then awarded a MORE grant for five 
laptop computers. As a result of these laptops, each officer saves 
one hour per shift writing reports. To determine the number of 
officer full-time equivalents (FTEs) that are redeployed to 
community policing, use the following formula: 

10 officers x 1 hour per shift x 228 shifts* = 2,280 hours saved 
2,280 hours/1824 hours** = 1.3 FTEs 

In this case, the Neelyburg Police Department has redeployed 

1.3 officers as a result of their MORE grant. 

The Marysville Police Department received COPS funds to 
purchase an automated booking/fingerprint system. Before the 
award, officers spent two hours per arrest booking prisoners. In 
the previous year, the department made 2,200 arrests. With the 
new equipment, the officers spend only 30 minutes per arrest 
booking each prisoner for a savings of one and a half hours per 
arrest. To determine the number of FTEs redeployed as a result 
of this grant, use the following formula: 

2,200 arrests per year x 1.5 hours per arrest = 3,300 hours 
saved 3,300 hours/1824 hours** = 1.8 FTEs 

The City of Alfred received COPS funding to purchase a 
CAD/RMS system and laptops. Prior to receiving the grant, 
officers spent about two and a half hours per call writing reports. 
Last year, officers filed a total of 8,600 reports. As a result of 
the new equipment, officers spend only one and a half hours per 
call writing the report for a savings of one hour per report. 

* The COPS standard for one year 
** The COPS standard for one FTE 

To determine the number of FTEs redeployed as a result of this 
grant, use the following formula: 

8,600 reports per year x 1 hour per report = 8,600 hours saved 
8,600 hours/1824 hours** = 4.7 FTEs 

Example – Civilians (One to One Redeployment) 

At the Bakersville Police Department, Officer Dame was 
assigned full time to dispatch duties. Bakersville received a 
MORE grant for a full time civilian dispatcher to allow Officer 
Dame to be redeployed to community policing duties. This is 
considered one to one redeployment and equals one FTE. The 
formula for this calculation is: 

1 officer x 8 hours per shift x 228 shifts* = 1,824 hours saved 
1,824 hours/1,824 hours** = 1 FTE 

In this case, the Bakersville Police Department has redeployed 
one officer as a result of its MORE grant. 

Example – Civilians 

Each of the seven officers at the Mouton County Sheriff's 
Department used to spend an average of two hours per shift 
handling non-emergency calls that could have been handled by a 
civilian. Mouton County received a MORE grant for a full-time 
civilian to handle non-emergency calls. The office estimates that 
as a result of this civilian, each officer saves one and a half 
hours per shift. 

To determine the number of FTEs that have been redeployed to 
community policing as a result of this grant, use the following 
formula: 

7 officers x 1.5 hours per shift x 228 shifts* = 2,394 hours saved 
2,394 hours/1824 hours** = 1.3 FTEs 

In this case, the Mouton County Sheriff's Department has 
redeployed about one and one third of its officers as a result of 
its MORE grant. 

Contact COPS 

For more information, please contact the U.S. Department of 
Justice Response Center at 800.421.6770, or visit COPS 
Online at www.cops.usdoj.gov. 

Updated: January 07, 2002 

e11021797