NCJ Number
65407
Date Published
1980
Length
30 pages
Annotation
THIS CONFERENCE REPORT OUTLINES MAJOR IMPEDIMENTS FACED BY POLICE ADMINISTRATORS AND PRESENTS RESULTS OF ONSITE INTERVIEWS WITH POLICE ADMINISTRATORS IN FIVE ILLINOIS COMMUNITIES.
Abstract
ADMINISTRATORS FACE SIX MAJOR PROBLEMS, FIRST, THERE IS AT PRESENT NO CLEAR MISSION FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. UNLIKE DOCTORS AND LAWYERS, POLICE CHIEFS MUST ADMINISTER WITHOUT SUPPORT FROM PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND CONTRADICTORY ROLES FOR POLICE EXACERBATE THE PROBLEM. SECOND, POLICE CHIEFS HAVE NO CLEAR ROLE; THEY MUST STRIKE A BALANCE BETWEEN PROFESSIONALISM AND RESPONSE TO LEGITIMATE POLITICAL DEMANDS. THEY WORK UNDER GREAT PRESSURE (THE POLICE CHIEF'S JOB BEING AMONG THE MOST DIFFICULT IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT) AND ARE THE CONSTANT PREY OF SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS. IN ADDITION, POLICE CHIEFS OFTEN HAVE PROBLEMS DELEGATING AUTHORITY AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT MANAGEMENT ENTAILS. THIRD, MOST POLICE EXECUTIVES OPERATE WITHOUT JOB SECURITY, SERVING AT THE PLEASURE OF THE CITY MANAGER OR OTHER POLITICIAN. FOURTH, POLICE CHIEFS SUFFER PERSONNEL PROBLEMS. UNIONS, THE CIVIL SERVICE, AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PROGRAMS, AND NECESSARY POLICE TRAINING PROVIDE CONFLICTING PRESSURES. FIFTH, POLICE DEPARTMENTS OFTEN LACK DATA FOR PROPERLY DEPLOYING POLICE RESOURCES. SIXTH, POLICE CHIEFS OFTEN ARE UNABLE TO SHED TRADITIONAL MINDSETS, THUS CREATING ADMINISTRATIVE PROBLEMS. SPECIFIC ILLINOIS PROBLEMS INCLUDE CIVIL SERVICE PROBLEMS, POOR POLICE TRAINING, POOR ROLE DEFINITION FOR POLICE CHIEFS AND POLICE, AND EXCESSIVE LEGISLATIVE MANDATES. RECOMMENDATIONS ARE INCLUDED FOR ALL PROBLEMS. (PAP)