Staffing Study

Consultation Service Options

Make Evidence-Informed Staffing Decisions

Align Your Resources with Real Workload Demands

Determining the right number of staff for your agency is not just about benchmarks—it’s about understanding your community’s actual service needs. NPI’s Staffing Study provides a detailed, data-driven analysis to help law enforcement agencies and local government leaders assess current staffing levels and your community’s needs to make informed decisions for effective resource allocation.

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What is a Staffing Study?

A staffing study—also referred to as a workload analysis—helps your agency evaluate whether current staffing aligns with demand. Rather than relying on outdated ratios, such as officers per 1,000 residents, NPI focuses on actual call volumes, time spent on services, and operational complexity.

This service helps your agency to:

  • Understand workload distribution across patrol, investigative, and support units
  • Establish defensible staffing levels based on real data
  • Improve resource allocation for better service delivery
  • Support planning and budget decisions with credible analysis

Key Benefits

Staffing Key Benefit 1

Clear, data-backed staffing projections tailored to your agency’s unique needs.

Staffing Key Benefit 2

Baseline metrics to guide future planning and performance tracking.

Staffing Key Benefit 3

Enhanced ability to justify staffing requests to decision-makers and the public.

Staffing Key Benefit 4

Opportunities to improve efficiency and staff morale by addressing workload imbalances.

Why work with NPI?

A group of smiling police officers stand together outside a government building, with one female officer in the foreground.

Specialized Expertise

NPI’s team includes experienced law enforcement professionals and researchers who understand operational realities.

Proven Methods

With established, workload-based methodologies, NPI offers accurate and reliable results with actionable recommendations.

Custom Approach

Every study is tailored to your agency’s size, structure, and available data.

How it works

Most data quality assessments are completed within 2 to 6 months, depending on the agency’s responsiveness and the complexity of the systems involved.

Discovery

We begin with a consultation to define your goals, followed by structured data collection across workload and operations.

Engagement & Analysis

We conduct focus groups and interviews, then analyze findings to project staffing needs based on real demand.

Delivery & Follow-up

You receive a clear report with actionable recommendations, followed by a review session to discuss next steps.

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"“Throughout our staffing and workload study, NPI demonstrated professionalism, responsiveness, and a genuine interest in helping us improve. You took the time to listen to our concerns, assess our operational realities, and tailor your recommendations specifically to Ferguson’s needs. It was clear this wasn’t a cookie-cutter approach, it was a partnership rooted in real understanding.” - Colonel Troy Doyle, Ferguson Police Department."

Colonel Troy Doyle
Ferguson Police Department

Learn how a staffing study can help your agency

If your agency is looking to better align staffing with community needs, NPI’s Staffing Study can provide the clarity and support you need for effective planning.