Davenport details crime-analysis unit, co-responder model, cameras and drone program

City staff detailed several public-safety initiatives at the Davenport budget workshop, describing investments in data, people and technology aimed at improving response and prevention.

Staff said the city completed a three‑year sworn initiative that established a crime analysis unit in the police department. ‘‘We have two dedicated full time crime analysts and [a] third analyst connected to the National Guard,’’ staff said, and reported the department has integrated crime and management data to enable more proactive, data-driven deployment.

Staff discussed the co‑responder model for mental‑health related calls: a social worker is paired with officers for several shifts per week and the city is evaluating expanding that coverage. Staff also described a paramedicine expert working with community partners to address increasing mental‑health call volumes.

Technology investments include a drone program to support investigations and event monitoring, and public‑safety camera deployments that include license‑plate readers. Staff said Davenport is sharing camera and license‑plate data with neighboring Quad Cities departments as part of regional collaboration.

Staff described a pilot with the Downtown Development Partnership to fund a downtown patrol that will focus on engaging people experiencing homelessness, referring visitors to social services and supporting downtown safety; the DDP is paying a significant portion of that pilot. Staff said the pilot is being finalized and additional details will be provided as implementation proceeds.