NCJ Number
31974
Journal
Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 3 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1975) Pages: 284-291
Date Published
1975
Length
8 pages
Annotation
RESULTS OF A SURVEY OF MENLO PARK (CA) RESIDENTS UNDERTAKEN TO DETERMINE THE CITIZEN'S ATTITUDES TOWARD POLICE SERVICE AND POLICE OPERATION SINCE THE MENLO PARK POLICE DEPARTMENT'S REORGANIZATION AND REORIENTATION.
Abstract
IN 1969, THE POLICE IN MENLO PARK ADOPTED THREE MAJOR REFORMS: INTRODUCTION OF A BLAZER-STYLE UNIFORM, THE REPLACEMENT OF QUASI-MILITARY RANK TITLES WITH FUNCTIONAL TITLES, AND THE INITIATION OF PARTICIPATIVE MANAGEMENT AS A DEPARTMENT PHILOSOPHY. THIS QUESTIONNAIRE WAS DESIGNED TO SURVEY CITIZEN ATTITUDES CONCERNING THE IMPACT OF THE POLICE UNIFORM, THE FAIRNESS AND PROFESSIONALISM OF MENLO PARK OFFICERS, CITIZEN'S REACTIONS TO THE SERVICE ORIENTATION OF THE OFFICERS, THE DISTRIBUTION OF MENLO PARK OFFICERS AROUND VARIOUS NEIGHBORHOODS, THE INTEGRITY OF THE OFFICERS, THE USE OF WOMEN PATROL OFFICERS, AND THE LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE IN MENLO PARK POLICE OFFICERS. A TOTAL OF 221 CITIZENS WERE SURVEYED. IT WAS FOUND THAT CITIZENS IN MENLO PARK OUTSIDE OF BELLE HAVEN, A PREDOMINANTLY BLACK COMMUNITY, HAVE A HIGH REGARD FOR THEIR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND FAVOR THE DIRECTION IT HAS TAKEN DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS. WITHIN BELLE HAVEN, CITIZENS HAVE NOT BEEN SO FAVORABLY IMPRESSED BY THE DEPARTMENT; WITH THE AVAILABLE DATA, IT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED WHETHER THIS WAS BECAUSE OF SPECIFIC INCIDENTS WITHIN MENLO PARK OR A GENERAL NEGATIVE VIEW OF POLICE BY THESE CITIZENS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)