How police resource allocation and patrol strategies impact traffic incident response: an agent-based simulation in Jefferson County, Alabama

Traffic incident management (TIM) is essential for reducing congestion, improving safety and minimizing the secondary impacts of roadway incidents. Within this coordinated framework, police patrol units play a central role in TIM operations by verifying incidents, managing traffic control, and ensuring the safety of road users. Beyond responding to dispatched incidents, patrol officers routinely patrol the city to maintain public trust in traffic enforcement. Meeting both of these mission-critical responsibilities is an operational challenge, especially given limited resources and variable incident demand. This study develops an Agent-Based Simulation framework to evaluate police vehicle activities related to responding to incidents and patrolling in Jefferson County, Alabama, as a case study. Using real-world incident data, the simulation models how vehicles respond to incidents and conduct proactive patrols. The simulation helps estimate police car demand and guide resource use to improve response times and patrol coverage, which can be applied to other cities.