Calls for Service

Understanding Calls for Service

A Call for Service (CFS) is a record in the Department’s Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) System. It documents when an officer is dispatched to, or self-initiates, a response to a specific situation. Examples of individual calls for service include:

  • Burglary Alarm (under the category of Alarms)
  • Medical Escort (under the category of Escorts)
  • Noise Complaint (under the category of Disturbances)

Categories of Service Calls

Service calls are grouped into broader categories based on the nature of the situation. Examples include:

  • Alarms: includes calls like burglary alarms, fire alarms, and panic alarms
  • Escorts: includes medical escorts, safety escorts, and other types of assistance
  • Disturbances: Includes noise complaints, fights, and other disruptions
  • Property Issues: Includes lost and/or stolen property reports
  • Suspicious Activity: Includes reports of suspicious persons or trespassing
  • Well-being Checks: Includes checks on individuals’ safety and welfare
  • Property Checks: Includes security building checks, business log books, and “park and walks"
  • Medical Cases: Includes hospital cases, auto accidents that require medical treatment, sick assistance, slips and falls

How Calls for Service Are Initiated

  • By an officer
  • By any individual making a call or report to Drexel Public Safety
  • In response to an alarm

Calls for Service can be addressed either in the field or over the phone.

Data Representation

The data below represents calls to which a DUPD officer was assigned. It does not include calls transferred to another public safety agency, Drexel department, or other entity better suited to handle the issue.

Workload
Annual Calls for Service Totals  2022 2023 2024
Total Number of Calls 7485 16139 51587*

The annual average calls for service from 2022-2024 is 25070.

The total number of calls for service has been increasing significantly since Oct. 2023, due to a Drexel Police Department initiative to perform a higher volume of routine security building checks. “Security building checks” are a grouping of officer-initiated service calls that see the officer performing routine duties such as park and walks, logbook signings and security building checks.

Annual vs. Daily Incident Reports: 2022-2024

Annual average, daily average, and calls for service averages by shift:
On average, Between 2022-2024,
6934
incident reports are written annually.
On average, BETWEEN 2022-2024
19
incident reports are written each day.
On average, between 2022 and 2024, DPS responded to
26

Calls for Service each day.

25%

Overnight (11 p.m.-3 a.m.)
Average Percentage of Calls for Service

38%

Daytime ( 7 a.m.-3 p.m.)
Average Percentage of Calls for Service

37%

Evening (3-11 p.m.)
Average Percentage of Calls for Service

2022-2024 Annual Averages for Top Calls for Service

The top 10 calls for service represent
86%

of the total calls for service each year. These calls are their own incidents and separate from the metrics originally used to collect the data presented.

Top 10 Calls for Service Over Three-year Period Averages
Incident Average Per Year
Security Building Check 19048
Investigation Person 808
Hospital Case 432
Investigate Premises 29
Disturbance Business 287
Report of Theft 241
Illegal Parking 240
Auto Accident 193
Vehicle Stop 193
Burglary Alarm 173

In addition to the top 10, Drexel police officers respond to a broad range of service calls including responses to criminal matters. The categories for these calls are listed below:

  • Alarms (excluding fire alarms)
  • Found/Recovered Property
  • Medical
  • Escorts
  • Thefts
  • Suspicious Activity
  • Fire Alarms
  • Noise complaint/Loud Music/ Disturbance
  • Lost Property
  • Well Being Checks
  • Auto Occupied/Unoccupied, Relocate, Broken down
  • Vandalism
  • Auto Accident
  • Assault and Batteries/Sexual Assaults
  • Everything Else

Calls for Service Definitions

The data above is based on calendar year and updated annually. Last updated: March 2025.