LAKEWOOD COLORADO - CHANGE AGENT IN POLICE ADMINISTRATION AND ORGANIZATION (FROM TENTH ANNUAL INTERAGENCY WORKSHOP - PROCEEDINGS, 1975 - SEE NCJ-46564)

• NCJ Number: 46572
• Author(s): P R BROOKS
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 6 pages
• Corporate Author: Sam Houston State University
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE PROBLEMS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF A POLICE DEPARTMENT CREATED WHEN A DENVER SUBURB BECAME AN INCORPORATED CITY ARE RECOUNTED.

Abstract

IN 1969, WHEN LAKEWOOD VOTED TO INCORPORATE, THERE WERE NO CITY SERVICES. THE CITY LEADERS WANTED A 'NEW IMAGE' POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE OFFICERS OF THE LAKEWOOD DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, WHICH BECAME OPERATIONAL IN EARLY 1970, WORE BLAZER UNIFORMS AND WERE CALLED AGENTS. LATERAL-ENTRY OFFICERS FROM OTHER POLICE AGENCIES WERE REQUIRED TO HAVE 2 YEARS OF POLICE EXPERIENCE AND 2 YEARS OF COLLEGE. RECRUITED AGENTS WERE REQUIRED TO HAVE A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE. CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES WERE USED ON A THREE-TO-ONE RATIO. ORGANIZATIONALLY THE DEPARTMENT WAS BASED ON THE GENERALIST CONCEPT OF TEAM POLICING. PEER GROUP SUPERVISION WAS ANOTHER MAJOR ORGANIZATIONAL CONCEPT. WITHIN A YEAR, THE DEPARTMENT HAD BECOME AN 'ORGANIZATIONAL DISASTER.' ALTHOUGH THERE WERE PROBLEMS RELATED TO THE ATTITUDES OF OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL IN THE AREA AND OF LAKEWOOD CITIZENS, THE MAJOR PROBLEM WAS ORGANIZATION. CHANGE HAD NOT BEEN PLANNED. THERE HAD BEEN CHANGE FOR THE SAKE OF CHANGE ALONE. THE GENERALIST CONCEPT WAS NOT WORKING. MEASURES WERE TAKEN TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEMS. PEER GROUP SUPERVISION WAS ELIMINATED, AND TEAM-POLICING STRATEGIES WERE MODIFIED. THE DEPARTMENT, HAVING MADE A 'STRATEGIC RETREAT,' STABILIZED. (LKM)