ABSTRACT
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought about an unprecedented change in how local and state governments operate, including the introduction of extraordinary lockdown measures known as stay-at-home orders (SAHO). This research analyzes the effect of SAHO on the nature of calls for service (CFS) in Dallas, Texas. The study uses CFS data from the Dallas Police Department from March 23, 2019, through April 30, 2020. The study hypothesizes that business-related, nonemergency, fire, and medical calls increased due to the changes in routine activities and contagion among the population. The study also suggests that the categories of emergency, investigative, public safety, and traffic calls declined due to the increase of people staying home and not driving on the roadways. The CFS are also classified by the city council districts which are grouped on both racial and ethnic make-up and levels of property value. The study uses the interrupted time-series analysis to understand the trend, seasonality, and potential change in CFSs during the pandemic.
