NCJ Number
58954
Date Published
1979
Length
238 pages
Annotation
POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS ON URBAN POLICE SYSTEMS IS THE FOCUS OF THIS RESEARCH PROJECT CONDUCTED OVER APPROXIMATELY A 2-YEAR PERIOD BEGINNING IN NOVEMBER 1976.
Abstract
DATA FROM THE STUDY WERE COLLECTED FROM 42 RANDOMLY SELECTED AMERICAN CITIES, RANGING IN SIZE FROM 50,000 TO 750,000 PERSONS. IN EACH STUDY SITE, CURRENT CIVIL SERVICE LAWS AND POLICE UNION CONTRACTS WERE COLLECTED, INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED WITH THE MOST KNOWLEDGEABLE MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS AND ORGANIZATION REPRESENTATIVES, AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS PROVIDED INFORMATION ON PROGRAMS AND POLICIES IN A POLICE DEPARTMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE. SUPPLEMENTAL DATA WERE PROVIDED BY THE POLICE FOUNDATION, THE NATIONAL PLANNING ASSOCIATION, AND THE FBI. THE ABSENCE OF AN OVERALL CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM WHICH GOVERNS POLICE PERSONNEL AFFAIRS IN AMERICA IS NOTED. CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSIONS DIFFER FROM CITY TO CITY IN THE ROLES THEY PLAY IN POLICE PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATION AND, AS A RESULT, IN THE IMPACTS THEY HAVE ON LOCAL OFFICIALS, ON POLICE DEPARTMENTAL PROGRAMS AND PRACTICES, AND ON THE GENERAL QUALITY OF LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. WHILE SOME COMMISSIONS POSE SIGNIFICANT CONSTRAINTS ON THE ABILITIES OF LOCAL OFFICIALS TO PROMOTE INNOVATIVE POLICE PROGRAMS, OTHERS WORK TO PROMOTE DEPARTMENTAL INNOVATION AND MORE EFFICIENT CRIMINAL APPREHENSION PROCEDURES. THE STUDY EXAMINES A NUMBER OF ISSUES, AMONG THEM THE STATUTORY SUPPORTS FOR LOCAL CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSIONS AND THE IMPACT OF COMMUNITY POLITICS AND POLICE UNIONISM ON LOCAL POLICE PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATION. PROPOSALS FOR CIVIL SERVICE REFORMS IN THE URBAN POLICE CONTEXT SHOULD BE TAILORED TO LOCAL CIRCUMSTANCES AND TO MEANINGFUL VARIATIONS IN CIVIL SERVICE ROLES. NUMEROUS CHARTS, FOOTNOTES, A BIBLIOGRAPHY, AND DIAGRAMS ILLUSTRATE THE TEXT. APPENDIXES INCLUDE CONTENT ANALYSIS CHECKLISTS FOR POLICE BARGAINING CONTRACTS AND PERSONNEL SYSTEMS, A POLICE QUESTIONNAIRE, AN INTERVIEW SCHEDULE, AND A LETTER TO URBAN EXECUTIVES.