NCJ Number
41378
Date Published
1977
Length
254 pages
Annotation
WRITTEN BY TWO WORKING POLICE CHIEFS, THIS TEXT PROVIDES A CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF THE AMERICAN POLICE, POLICE ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE, AND EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF POLICE SERVICES.
Abstract
OFFERED AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO TRADITIONAL POLICE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, IT FOCUSES ON ASPECTS OF ORGANIZATION THAT HAVE RECEIVED RELATIVELY LITTLE ATTENTION IN SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED POLICE AGENCIES IN AMERICA. IN THE FIRST SECTION OF THIS TEXT, THE AUTHORS ADDRESS THE PROCESS OF CHANGE. THEY CRITICIZE TRADITIONAL POLICE MANAGEMENT, OFFER ALTERNATIVES, AND PROVIDE A PRECISE ANALYSIS OF THE PROBLEMS THAT THE AMERICAN POLICE FACE AND THE POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS FOR THESE PROBLEMS. THE SECOND SECTION PRESENTS SEVERAL CASE STUDIES OF POLICE ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT. STUDIES ARE DRAWN FROM MENLO PARK (CA), OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY, CHARLOTTE (NC), AND ST. PETERSBURG (FL). IN THE FINAL SECTION, THE AUTHORS DEAL WITH CONTROVERSIAL POLICE PROBLEMS - CITIZENS' COMPLAINTS, POLICE SECRECY, POLICE CYNICISM, POLICE CORRUPTION, POLICE BRUTALITY, PUBLIC RELATIONS, ROLE OF WOMEN OFFICERS, POLICE DISCRETION, AND OTHERS. SOME OF THE POLICE MANAGEMENT SUBJECTS IN THE BOOK ARE BASIC CHANGE STRATEGIES, MANAGING POLICE RESOURCES, ORGANIZATION CHANGE CONSIDERATIONS, THE TEAM CONCEPT, EFFECTIVE POLICE ORGANIZATION, AND THE POLICE MANAGER AS CHANGE AGENT. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)...DMC