Integrating Investigative Operations Through Neighborhood Oriented Policing

• NCJ Number: 116594
• Author(s): T N Oettmeier; W H Bieck
• Date Published: 1989
• Length: 289 pages
• Corporate Author: Houston Police Dept
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Executive Session #2.

Annotation

This report on the Houston Police Department's second executive session sets policy for the integration of the investigative function with the concept of neighborhood-oriented policing (NOP) developed in the first executive session.

Abstract

NOP aims to integrate the desires and expectations of citizens with actions taken by the police department to identify and address conditions that negatively impact the city and neighborhoods. This is done by decentralizing police organization and functions through the use of neighborhood command stations. The implications of such a policing structure for the investigative function are discussed in this report, with a focus on three management models. These models are described after a description of NOP within the Houston Police Department, a review of the history of criminal investigations, and a discussion of the assessment of organizational structure to accommodate functions. The management models described are alternatives to the traditional definition and organization of patrol and investigative functions. Inherent within each of the models is a conceptual commitment to build a management system feasible under the notion of decentralization and supported by the basic tenets of NOP. The integration of investigative operations with the NOP structure involves two fronts: the interaction of investigators with citizens and the interaction among investigative and patrol police personnel. A 24-item bibliography.