NCJ Number
61866
Date Published
1978
Length
4 pages
Annotation
AN 8-WEEK TRAINING COURSE IN MANAGEMENT SKILLS AND HUMAN RELATIONS FOR DUTCH POLICE OFFICERS IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENTS OF THE COURSE (FOR ASPIRING SERGEANTS) ARE (1) ORIENTATION TO THE RESPONSIBILITIES AND NEW DEVELOPMENTS WITHIN THE POLICE FORCE THROUGH SUBJECTS SUCH AS THE FUNCTION OF POLICE IN SOCIETY, THE POLICE ORGANIZATION, SURVEILLANCE METHODS, POLICE AND AUTOMATION, AND THE POLICE AND VIOLENCE, (2) ORIENTATION TO SOCIETY THROUGH SUBJECTS SUCH AS BIOLOGICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR, DEMOCRACY, POLITICAL RELATIONS, THE TENSIONS BETWEEN ORDER AND FREEDOM IN SOCIETY, EXTREME POLITICAL GROUPS, TRADE UNIONS AND THE RIGHT TO STRIKE, PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, LOCAL AND NATIONAL GOVERNMENT, JUDICIAL POWERS, AND THE LEGAL SYSTEM; (3) THE DEVELOPMENT OF LEADERSHIP SKILLS, WHICH INVOLVES MANAGEMENT, COOPERATION WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION, EVALUATION OF COLLEAGUES, AND EVALUATION TECHNIQUES; AND (4) DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL SKILLS BY CONSIDERING PREJUDICE, DIFFERENCES OF OPINION, FLUENCY IN CONVERSATION, CONFERENCE TECHNIQUES, AND PATTERNS OF EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION. TEACHING METHODS INCLUDE LECTURES, SMALL-GROUP DISCUSSIONS, FIELD TRIPS, AND CLASSROOM CONVERSATIONAL INTERACTION WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM VARIOUS SUBCULTURES AND SOCIAL GROUPS WITHIN DUTCH SOCIETY. THERE IS NO EXAM OR STUDENT PERFORMANCE EVALUATION IN THE COURSE. STUDENTS ARE ASKED TO EVALUATE THEIR PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT DURING THE COURSE, AS WELL AS THE QUALITY OF THE COURSE ITSELF. STUDENTS GENERALLY VIEW THE COURSE FAVORABLY. PLANS FOR FUTURE COURSE DEVELOPMENT INCLUDE DIVERSIFICATION OF TRAINING, CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR SERGEANTS, AND OTHER TRAINING PROJECTS. NO REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (RCB)