NCJ Number
47497
Date Published
1978
Length
184 pages
Annotation
THE FINDINGS OF THE EMPIRICAL EVALUATION OF THE MASSIVE REORGANIZATION PROGRAM UNDERTAKEN BY THE DALLAS (TEXAS) POLICE DEPARTMENT ARE PRESENTED.
Abstract
THIS REPORT COVERS THE ENTIRE PROCESS FROM 1971 TO 1976. THE OBJECTIVE OF THE REFORM PROJECT WAS TO IDENTIFY THE BASIC NEEDS OF THE DALLAS COMMUNITY AND TO STRUCTURE A POLICE ROLE WHICH CONFORMS TO THOSE NEEDS. THE PROJECT WAS A MAJOR EFFORT TO CHANGE POLICING BY CHANGING ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOR OF PERSONNEL. THE BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION OF THE INDIVIDUAL REFORM PROGRAMS, WHICH INCLUDED ORGANIZATIONAL DECENTRALIZATION, INNOVATIVE RECRUITING (SUCH AS SENDING RECRUITING TEAMS TO COLLEGES WITH SUBSTANTIAL MINORITY ENROLLMENTS), ESTABLISHMENT OF A PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES UNIT AND TRAINING PROGRAMS IN PHYSICAL FITNESS AND CRISIS INTERVENTION, AND EXPANSION OF THE POLICE ACADEMY LIBRARY, ARE PRESENTED. A QUESTIONNAIRE (NOT INCLUDED) WAS DEVELOPED TO DETERMINE THE IMPACT OF THE PROJECT ON POLICE ATTITUDES AND TO ASSESS THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PROGRAM IN THE PERIODS 1971 TO 1973, AND 1973 TO 1976. OTHER DATA WERE COLLECTED FROM THE FILES OF THOSE WHO COMPLETED THE QUESTIONNAIRES. THE DATA WERE USED TO MEASURE FOUR OBJECTIVES. THE PRIMARY GOAL WAS TO RECRUIT, RETAIN, AND PROMOTE OFFICERS DIFFERENT FROM THOSE ALREADY IN THE DEPARTMENT; EVALUATION INDICATORS WERE DESIGNATED AS INCREASE IN EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, MINORITY REPRESENTATION (ETHIC AND SEXUAL), NUMBERS OF PERSONNEL WITH COSMOPOLITAN BACKGROUND, AND IMPROVED ATTITUDES AND VALUES. ANOTHER GOAL WAS INCREASED OFFICER SATISFACTION, ITS INDICATORS BEING DECREASED ISOLATION AND ALIENATION OF POLICE OFFICERS, INCREASED JOB COMMITMENT, AND INCREASED JOB SATISFACTION. A THIRD GOAL OF INCREASING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE HUMAN RELATIONS AND PUBLIC SERVICE FUNCTIONS WAS STUDIED, USING QUESTIONNAIRE ITEMS WHICH MEASURED ATTITUDES TOWARD THOSE FUNCTIONS. THE FINAL GOAL OF INCREASED PROFESSIONALISM WAS MEASURED BY INCREASES IN THE STATUS OF THE PATROL FORCE, EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, IMPORTANCE OF PEER EVALUATION AND JOB COMMITMENT, DECREASES IN ISOLATION AND ALIENATION; AND CHANGED WORK ORIENTATIONS. THE FINDINGS SUGGEST THAT, ALTHOUGH THE EDUCATIONAL LEVEL OF RECRUITS AND POLICE OFFICERS AND THE ABSOLUTE NUMBER OF WOMEN INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY, FEW ATTITUDINAL CHANGES TOOK PLACE OVER TIME. AN ANALYSIS OF DEPARTMENT RECORDS SHOWS THAT BEHAVIOR APPEARED NOT TO HAVE CHANGED DURING EACH 3-YEAR PERIOD. A CHRONOLOGY, EXTENSIVE TABULAR DATA, AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. APPENDIXES INCLUDE A LISTING OF FACTORS AND ITEM LOADINGS FOR THE FOLLOWING THREE INDICATORS: JOB SATISFACTION, WORK ORIENTATION, AND WORK ATTITUDE. FOR THE HISTORY AND PROCESS OF THE PROJECT, SEE VOLUME ONE, NCJ-47496. (BAC)