EVALUATING AND REDESIGNING TIP-A-COP PROGRAM: 

A COMMUNITY-BASED RESEARCH PROJECT

Jaime M. Tracy, Kami L. Clawson, Yvette Herrera, Joel Orton, Jennifer Petersen

(Dr. Lauren A. Fowler)

Psychology Department, Weber State University

Special thanks to:  Rich Campbell, Jennifer King, Lt. Mike Ashment, and Karen Thurber

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Weber-Morgan Narcotics Strike Force established Tip-A-Cop (TAC), which was intended to reduce production, distribution, and use of methamphetamines.  TAC allows community members to become more involved in actively fighting against drug-related issues.  While the TAC program has been successful in Morgan County and in rural Weber County, TAC has not been as successful in the Ogden Metro area.  The Strike Force, in conjunction with Ogden City, worked with a group of research students from Weber State to assess the current status of the TAC program in the Ogden Metro area.  A survey was created to assess community perceptions, knowledge, and attitudes of the TAC program, using both quantitative and qualitative methodology. The survey revealed that while many community members had heard of TAC, few had actually participated.  Survey results reflected apprehensions about how and when to use the program, as well as concerns about retaliation and safety issues.  The survey also addressed individual perspectives of which changes should be made to increase the likelihood of community cooperation with TAC in the future.   The implications of the survey’s outcomes and suggestions for improvements will be discussed.  The results of this collaborative will be implemented to benefit Ogden Metro area citizens.

 

 

Mission Statement

 

            In the Fall Semester of 2003, a small group of students from Dr. Lauren Fowler’s Drugs and Behavior class, volunteered to participate in a community based research project.  The Weber Morgan Narcotics Strike Force, in conjunction with Ogden City’s Operation Weed and Seed, will work with this small group of research students from Weber State University (WSU).  The purpose of this project is to assess the current status of the Tip-A-Cop (TAC) program in the Ogden Metro area, to work with members of the community to develop a more effective program, and to implement changes to the TAC program based on community needs. 

            WSU research students created a survey to assess perceptions and awareness held by members of the community about the TAC program.  The current perceptions, knowledge, and attitudes of the TAC program were evaluated using both quantitative and qualitative methodology.  The survey revealed that while many community members had heard of the TAC program, very few had actually participated.  The survey results reflected apprehensions about how and when to use the program.  There were concerns about retaliation and safety issues.  The survey also addressed individual perspectives of which changes should be made to increase the likelihood of future community cooperation with the TAC program.  The results of this collaborative effort between Ogden City’s Operation Weed and Seed, TAC program, and WSU will be implemented to benefit Ogden Metro area citizens.

 

Tip-A-Cop Program: 

Evaluation, Improvements, and Application

 

Below is a general plan for evaluation of the current Tip-A-Cop program and implementation of a revised program for the inner-city of Ogden.  This is focused on adult education of drug (specifically methamphetamines) issues in the community, how drug use impacts the neighborhood and why its important to trust and work with the police to eradicate drug manufacture, distribution and use.

 

For Fall 2003:

 

1.     Evaluation of Status Quo:

 

·         Identify current drug related issues and problems within the community, regarding drugs (focus on meth)

·         Determine what specific drug related needs and concerns are of community (focus on meth)

·         Perform an overall evaluation to see where people are in their knowledge of their community’s drug issues, if they know of problems, what steps they know to take if there are problems, etc.

·         While determining the status of the community, its needs, the perceptions of the people within it, etc, ask if anyone in the community has heard of or used the tip-a-cop program.  If they have heard of it, how did they hear of it.  If they have used it, what for and what was the result.  Determine general and specific reactions to the program.  Find suggestions for what would help increase the effectiveness of the tip-a-cop program in their community.

·         Look at psychographics (perceptions and attitudes) of members of the community with regards to tip-a-cop program.  Possibly use Richard Hutchison’s survey from last year.

 

2.     Direct Testing of Tip-A-Cop Effectiveness:

 

·         Directly test the effectiveness of tip-a-cop program.  Have students make up an evaluation of existing materials and then test those materials in the weed and seed district.

·         Possibly get materials translated into Spanish to test effectiveness that way, too.  This is STRONGLY suggested.

·         Do an open-ended and close-ended evaluation of current program in weed and seed district.  Have questions like, “How would you improve” but also have questions like, “Was this effective advertising . . . YES   NO.”

·         Survey should go through James Larson at Pinnacle prior to being used. 

 

 

** For steps #1 and #2, data could be collected from businesses, gathering places, parent night at schools, after school programs, head start, sporting events, Macey’s, Food Bank on food distribution days, etc.  Get a good representation of the members of the community to participate in these steps.

 

**For steps #1 and #2, Weed and Seed $$ could be used for incentives for participation.

 

**For steps #1 and #2, Theresa Child could be used as community liaison (see Karen Thurber for more info).   Theresa said yes, but needs to be done by November as she's moving then.  She's really interested in this, however.  I've added her  to the contact list.

 

 

3.     Application of Tip-A-Cop for Inner-city Ogden

 

·         Based on information gathered in #1 and #2, design new tip-a-cop program for inner city Ogden.

·         Think creatively about how to distribute information, using ideas collected during #1 and #2.  For example, distribute fliers on pizza boxes, grocery bags, etc.

·         Get businesses and churches involved to help distribute information.

·         Apply what was learned from steps #1 and #2 to improve and apply the tip-a-cop program to the Ogden inner-city area.  PLAN for application should be finished no later than January 1st, 2004.

 

For Spring 2004:

 

4.     Implementation of New Tip-A-Cop Program

 

·         Implement the plan for the new program.  Materials should be dispersed and in the neighborhoods by the end of January 2004.

·         Record methods of disbursement and any problems faced with implementing the new program.

 

5.     Evaluation of New Tip-A-Cop Program

 

·         Repeat steps 1 and 2 above after new materials have been in circulation for about a month.

·         Make amendments to new program as needed, based on evaluation of new program (steps 1 and 2).

 

 

Contact Information:

 

·         Lieutenant Mike Ashment, Commander of Weber Morgan Narcotic Strike Force, mikeashment@ci.ogden.ut.us, 629-8114

·         Dr. Lauren Fowler, Professor, WSU, lfowler@weber.edu, 626-7620

·         James Larson, Account Manager, Pinnacle Advertising, james@2thepoint.com, 392-7778

·         Karen Thurber, Senior Project Coordinator, Ogden City Neighborhood Development, karenthurber@ci.ogden.ut.us, 629-8943

·         Theresa Child, neighborhood resident.   Tel: 430-5509  email:   theresachild1@aol.com

 

 

 

Goals

 

Short-term

           

o       Collect additional surveys in Spanish (to gain a more accurate representation of the Spanish-speaking community). 

o       Finalize rules for the TAC Anti-methamphetamines Contest

o       Submit projected expenses related to the TAC Anti-methamphetamines Contest

o       Contact target after-school program coordinators for authorization.

o       Ask Lt. Mike Ashment for law enforcement support to lead an anti-methamphetamine lesson plan at each site, prior to the start of the contest.  (This may create a possibility for an initial positive interaction between the target groups and police officers.  OR

o       Joel Orton speaks Spanish fluently.  Orton has volunteered to assist in the anti-methamphetamine lesson plan. 

o       Establish a deadline for disbursement of the advertising material that the TAC Anti-methamphetamine Contest generates.

 

 

Long-term

 

o       Conduct a random sample survey of the new TAC program about a month or so after the new materials are handed out.

o       Record methods of disbursement and any issues or concerns that arise from implementing the new program.

o       Based on periodic survey results, make amendments to the new program as needed.  Initially, this will be based on evaluation of the new program.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TIP-A-COP SURVEY RESULTS

Percentages and Frequencies

 

 

1.  How concerned are you about methamphetamine use in your community?

  • Very concerned- 59 (67.8%)
  • A little concerned- 26 (29.9%)
  • Not concerned at all – 2 (2.3%)

i.   n=87

 

2.   How concerned are you about people distributing methamphetamine in your community?

  • Very concerned- 67 (77%)      
  • A little concerned- 18 (20.7%)
  • Not concerned at all- 2 (2.3%)

i.   n=87

 

3.   How comfortable would you feel talking to a police officer about a neighbor who you suspect is involved with methamphetamine?

  • Very comfortable- 26 (29.9%)
  • Somewhat comfortable- 37 (42.5%)
  • Uncomfortable- 24 (27.6%)

i.   n=87

 

4.   Would you be concerned about retaliation against you for reporting a neighbor involved in drug use, manufacture or sales?

  • Yes- 58 (66.7%)         
  • No- 28 (32.2%)

i.   n=86

           

6.   Have you ever heard of the tip-a-cop program?

  • Yes- 54 (62.1%)
  • No- 33 (37.9%)

i.   n=87

           

7.   Have you ever called the tip-a-cop hotline?

  • Yes- 2 (2.3%)
  • No- 68 (78.2%)

i.   n=70

 

10.   Were you satisfied with the performance of the call takers?

  • Very satisfied- 1 (100%)
  • Somewhat satisfied- 0 (0%)
  • Not at all satisfied- 0 (0%)

i.   n=1

 

13.   Approximately how long have you lived at you current residence?

  • Min (.1 yrs)   -   Max  (56 yrs)
  • Mean (8.6), SD (12.6)

           

14.   What area of Ogden do you live in?

  • Yellow- 2 (2.3%)
  • Green- 16 (18.4%)
  • Blue- 14 (16.1%)
  • Pink- 20 (23.0%)
  • Outside- 7 (8.0%)

i.   n=59

 

15.   Are you a _________?

  • Homeowner- 29 (33.3%)
  • Renter- 39 (44.8%)
  • Other- 8 (9.2%)

i.   n=56                      

16.   What is your annual household income?

  • 0-9,999 – 10 (11.5%)
  • 10,000-19,999 – 22 (25.3%)
  • 20,000-29,999 – 16 (18.4%)
  • 30,000-39,999 – 10 (11.5%)
  • 50,000-higher – 14 (16.1%)

i.   n=72

 

17.   What level of education have you completed?

  • Less than 9 years – 8 (9.2%)
  • Less than 12 years – 10 (11.5%)
  • High school or GED – 14 (16.1%)
  • Some college to technical school – 28 (32.2%)
  • College degree or technical school certification – 15 (17.2%)
  • Post graduate degree – 3 (3.4%)

i.   n=78

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ž    Have you ever heard of the tip-a-cop program?

 

 

  • This graph illustrates how many individuals have heard of the TAC program.  The graph shows that a large majority of Spanish speaking individuals have not heard of the TAC program.

 

 

Ž    How comfortable would you feel talking to a police officer about a neighbor who you suspect is involved with methamphetamine?

 

 

  • This graph illustrates the comfort level for individuals in dealing with the police.  The graph shows a majority of the Spanish speaking community being either somewhat comfortable or uncomfortable in dealing with the police.  The English speaking community seems to be, according to this graph, more comfortable in dealing with the police.

Ž    Would you be concerned about retaliation against you for reporting a neighbor involved in drug use, manufacture or sales?

 

 

  • This graph illustrates the percent of the population that is concerned with retaliation.  The graph shows that both English and Spanish speaking individuals are concerned with retaliation.  However, almost all Spanish speaking individuals said they were concerned with retaliation.

Ž    How concerned are you about methamphetamine use in your community?

 

  • This graph illustrates the level of concern about methamphetamine use.  The graph shows that language does not change the amount of concern.  It seems that most individuals are very concerned with methamphetamine use.

  • This graph illustrates the area of Ogden city compared with the primary language of the individual.

 

 

 

  • This graph shows different areas of Ogden where individuals have heard of the TAC program.