COOPERATION AND CONFLICT - OVERLAPPING POLICE JURISDICTIONS

• NCJ Number: 66302
• Journal: NATIONAL CIVIC REVIEW Volume: 68 Issue: 8 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1979) Pages: 417-422
• Author(s): J A BAER
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 6 pages
• Corporate Author: National Municipal League
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

FINDINGS ARE REPORTED FROM A SURVEY TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT OF INTERJURISDICTIONAL COOPERATION BETWEEN THE SUFFOLK COUNTY POLICE DISTRICT (NEW YORK) AND THE 11 TOWNS AND VILLAGES WITH THEIR OWN POLICE DEPARTMENTS.

Abstract

THE CHIEFS OF POLICE OR COMMANDING OFFICERS OF THE FIVE TOWNS AND FIVE OF THE SIX INCORPORATED VILLAGES MAINTAINING POLICE DEPARTMENTS RESPONDED TO THE SURVEY, AS DID THE COUNTY POLICE COMMISSIONER AND THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE COUNTY'S DETECTIVE SQUAD. RESULTS SHOWED THAT 90 PERCENT OF THE RESPONDING TOWN AND VILLAGE DEPARTMENTS HAD MUTUAL AID AGREEMENTS, AND 80 PERCENT OF THE RESPONDENTS HAD FORMED COORDINATED ROAD BLOCK SYSTEMS. A TOTAL OF 50 PERCENT OF THE DEPARTMENTS HAD ENTERED INTO AGREEMENTS FOR THE JOINT USE OF RADIO FACILITIES, AND 50 PERCENT REPORTED INFORMAL AGREEMENTS FOR ARREST INFORMATION AND CRIMINAL IDENTIFICATION. MUCH LESS FREQUENTLY UTILIZED WERE INTERJURISDICTIONAL AGREEMENTS FOR PATROL SERVICES (30 PERCENT) AND TRAFFIC CONTROL (20 PERCENT). IN ADDITION, ALL JURISDICTIONS COOPERATE IN UNIFORM CRIME REPORTING, WHICH IS COORDINATED THROUGH THE COUNTY'S DETECTIVE SQUAD. HOWEVER, A LACK OF INTERJURISDICTIONAL COORDINATION IN SOLVING CRIMES IS REPORTED BETWEEN THE SIX VILLAGE AND TOWN DETECTIVE SQUADS AND THE COUNTY'S DETECTIVE SQUAD. A TOTAL OF 57 PERCENT OF THE TOWN AND VILLAGE RESPONDENTS CITED 'LIMITATIONS ON INDEPENDENCE OF ACTION' AS THE MOST IMPORTANT REASON FOR RELUCTANCE TO ENTER INTO SERVICE AGREEMENTS. TOWN AND VILLAGE POLICE CHIEFS ALSO DISAGREE WITH THE CONTENTION THAT COUNTYWIDE POLICE DISTRICTS ARE MORE ECONOMICAL THAN LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS, WHICH ARE ALSO REGARDED AS BEING MORE RESPONSIVE TO THE COMMUNITY'S NEEDS. INTERJURISDICTIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND THE TOWNS AND VILLAGES OF EASTERN SUFFOLK COUNTY ARE SUBSTANTIAL, WITH INCREASED COOPERATION LIKELY AS COSTS OF POLICE FUNCTIONS CONTINUE TO ESCALATE. (DEG)