NCJ Number
62862
Date Published
1979
Length
17 pages
Annotation
THE IMPORTANCE OF LATERAL MOVEMENT OF POLICE PERSONNEL BETWEEN AGENCIES IS DISCUSSED, AND BARRIERS TO SUCH MOVEMENT ARE NOTED.
Abstract
THE MOVEMENT OF CAREER POLICE PERSONNEL WITHIN AND BETWEEN JURISDICTIONS IS A VITAL ELEMENT FOR IMPROVED STAFFING IN A RAPIDLY EXPANDING POLICE SERVICE; HOWEVER, LATERAL ENTRY BETWEEN POLICE DEPARTMENTS IS RARE, WITH ONLY A FEW STATES, CALIFORNIA BEING THE MOST PROMINENT, MAKING AN EFFORT TO FACILITATE LATERAL MOVEMENT. TRADITIONAL POLICE PERSONNEL POLICY DOES NOT FAVOR LATERAL TRANSFER, AS PROMOTIONS TEND TO RESULT FROM SENIORITY IN A PARTICULAR AGENCY. LATERAL MOVEMENT, THEREFORE, IS PERCEIVED AS BEING UNFAIR TO THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED FOR YEARS IN ONE AGENCY. ADDITIONALLY, THE PRACTICE OF NURTURING CLOSED AGENCIES MEANS THAT THOSE COMING INTO AN AGENCY THROUGH LATERAL MOVEMENT ARE VIEWED AS OUTSIDERS AND INTERLOPERS. THE SURRENDER OF PENSION RIGHTS UPON LEAVING A GIVEN POLICE AGENCY ALSO DISCOURAGES LATERAL ENTRY. HOWEVER, STUDIES SHOW THAT PROMOTION ONLY FROM WITHIN DOES NOT PRODUCE THE QUALITY NEEDED FOR KEY ADMINISTRATIVE, PROFESSIONAL, AND TECHNICAL PERSONNEL. POLICE SERVICE AS A PROFESSION CAN ADVANCE ONLY WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF CAREER GENERALISTS WHOSE STANDARDS OF KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING, AND EXPERIENCE ARE TRANSFERABLE BETWEEN AGENCIES. RECENT SURVEYS SUGGEST THAT THE CONCEPT OF LATERAL ENTRY WILL MAKE LIMITED PROGRESS WITHIN THE NEXT DECADES. IT WILL TAKE FURTHER PROFESSIONALIZATION AND UNION PRESSURE TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN THIS AREA. (RCB)