The Science of Staffing: A Conversation with Pat Heffner on Police Resource Allocation

In this episode of The Coptimizer Podcast, Patrick Flannelly sits down with Pat Heffner, a retired police officer and seasoned instructor for the Northwestern University School of Police Staff & Command, to explore one of the most overlooked aspects of modern policing — resource allocation.

With decades of experience in law enforcement and education, Pat brings a pragmatic and data-driven lens to a topic that often flies under the radar of command staff. Together, we discuss the critical importance of staffing analysis, beat redesign, workload balance, and how failing to properly allocate resources can undermine even the most well-intentioned policing strategies.

Whether you're a chief, a line supervisor, or a community member trying to understand how police services are delivered, this episode offers an honest, practical deep-dive into what it takes to align staffing with service demands — and why it matters more than ever in today’s public safety environment.

🔑 Topics include:

• The fundamentals of police resource allocation

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• Why many departments struggle with staffing analysis

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• Real-world examples from Pat’s work with police agencies

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• How data can drive better decision-making for deployment

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• The connection between morale, burnout, and misaligned staffing