In Spring 2016, the Huntington Police Department (HPD) collaborated with Marshall students from the Department of Mathematics to tackle the inefficiencies in their city patrols.
Using data analysis, mathematical modeling techniques, and clever programming, the students produced new patrol district maps for the city to improve police response time and balance officer workload. They provided several suggestions based on available staffing.
Below is a 12-minute video in which the students outline their techniques for their solution (this is for a general audience).
In Fall 2016, HPD coordinated with Cabell County 911 to implement one of their maps with intentions to implement in Spring 2017. Due to budgetary issues which arose in January 2017, HPD did not have the manpower to implement their first choice. As a result, HPD opted to employ of the other students’ maps which required fewer personnel. HPD is now collaborating with Cabell County 911 for routing incoming calls with respect to the new map and seeks to implement them in short order.
| Project Supervisor: | Michael Schroeder, Department of Mathematics |
| Students: | Sara Brumbaugh, Matthew Haldeman, Elizabeth Hance, Ben Jones, Kevin McDaniel |
| Project Liaison: | Scott Lemley, Huntington Police Department |
Facebook Post by College of Science at Marshall University
Facebook by City of Huntington
Newspaper Article – Huntington Herald Dispatch
Local News Story – WCHS