NCJ Number
25386
Journal
Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 3 Issue: 1 Dated: (MARCH 1975) Pages: 66-76
Date Published
1975
Length
11 pages
Annotation
ANALYSIS OF STRUCTURAL CONDITIONS AFFECTING THE LOCATION OF SOCIAL BASES OF POWER AND THE EXERCISE OF POWER IN AN ORGANIZATIONAL POSITION AND OF THE CONSEQUENCES THEY HAVE ON PERSONS HANDLED BY THE ORGANIZATION'S PERSONNEL.
Abstract
THE SERGEANT-POLICE OFFICER CONTROL SYSTEMS OF THE PATROL, TRAFFIC TACTICAL FORCE, DETECTIVE, AND VICE UNITS OF ONE MAJOR CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT WERE STUDIED AND COMPARED IN RELATION TO THE FIVE TYPES OF POWER (REWARD, COERCIVE, LEGITIMATE, PREFERENT, EXPERT) THAT ONE PERSON CAN EXERT OVER ANOTHER. POLICE-CITIZEN ENCOUNTERS WERE OBSERVED TO ASSESS THE EFFICACY OF POLICE BEHAVIOR UNDER ALTERNATE CONTROL SYSTEMS AND IN DIFFERENT POLICE UNITS. THE FINDINGS FOR EACH UNIT ARE DISCUSSED INDIVIDUALLY. EACH OF THE ANALYZED ORGANIZATIONAL UNITS WAS FOUND TO VARY CONSIDERABLY WITH RESPECT TO THE NATURE OF THE WORK PERFORMED BY THE POLICE OFFICER AT THE OPERATING LEVEL, THE NATURE OF THE CITIZENS WITH WHOM THE POLICE OFFICER CAME INTO CONTACT, AND THE VARIABILITY OF THE WORK DEMANDS. THE AUTHOR POINTS OUT THAT THE ANALYSIS SUGGESTS THAT EACH UNIT WITHIN AN ORGANIZATION HAS QUITE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONAL CONTROL PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS AND THAT THERE ARE NO PROGRAMS APPLICABLE TO WHOLE ORGANIZATIONS OR POLICE DEPARTMENTS.