NCJ Number
78114
Journal
Canadian Police College Journal Volume: 5 Issue: 1 Dated: (1981) Pages: 13-33
Date Published
1981
Length
21 pages
Annotation
Two studies are presented which analyze the content of 1,119 police incidents in order to determine the distinctions in the quality of responsibilities among junior, middle, and senior police managers.
Abstract
The first study uses the inferential profile approach, which consists of creating an overall profile for each level of management, based on the activities described by the managers and subjecting the profiles to a critique. Management roles within a police operation are obviously both numerous and diverse. However, at all levels of management, duties seem to fall into three distinct areas: internal management, community liaison, and criminal investigation and reporting. Profiles are presented to pinpoint the differences and elaborate what is necessary for the evolution of an effective police organization. Methods to improve police effectiveness include clarification of long-range objectives, with increased communication at all levels; frequent evaluation and assessment of achievement; and improved interpersonal communication. The second study formally assesses the degree to which responsibility level was reflected in the function described by each incident. The incidents are analyzed with 19 separate functions. A panel of three judges rated the functions on a 5-point scale of responsibility. Only three functions showed a significant departure in the distribution of incidents from the average. The study constructs a job description for each level of management using a list of functions rated as above average in responsibility for the three management levels. One reference and an appendix detailing the three levels of job descriptions based on high responsibility functions are included. Tables and one reference are included. Related materials are appended.