NCJ Number
66496
Date Published
1980
Length
304 pages
Annotation
WRITTEN BY A VETERAN OF THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, THIS TEXT DEFINES POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS AS AN ART THAT INVOLVES MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING OF PROBLEMS FACED BY BOTH POLICE AND THE COMMUNITY.
Abstract
NOTING THAT THE NATIONAL COMMISSION ON CIVIL DISORDERS REPORTED THAT THE CONDUCT OF POLICE OFFICERS WAS THE TRIGGERING DEVICE IN MANY MAJOR RIOTS, THE VOLUME DESCRIBES THE CHANGING POLICE IMAGE AND PARTICULAR CRISIS AREAS IN POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS. THE DISCUSSION ILLUSTRATES THAT INHERENT IN EVERY CITIZEN ENCOUNTER IS THE POTENTIAL FOR REPERCUSSIONS, FROM INDIVIDUAL PERSONNEL COMPLAINTS TO THE RAGING INFERNO OF A RACE RIOT. THE ORGANIZATIONAL ASPECTS OF POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS ARE EMPHASIZED THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF MODELS DESCRIBING EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATIONS SKILLS. ALSO EXPLORED ARE THE IMPORTANCE OF POLICE AND COMMUNITY GROUP RELATIONS, THE NEED FOR GOOD POLICE-PRESS RAPPORT, THE IMPORTANCE OF LONG-RANGE TRAINING, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF A LIAISON BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CLASSROOM TEACHING. THE SOCIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS ARE DEVELOPED, WITH DISCUSSIONS OF SOCIOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, SUCH AS SMALL GROUP BEHAVIOR, AND EXPLORATIONS OF CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE AND RIOTS. FINALLY, THE PRESENT AND FUTURE OF POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS ARE EXAMINED. POLICE DIVERSION, COMMUNITY CRIME PREVENTION, POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS PROGRAMMING, AND THE RATE OF INDIVIDUAL AND FIRST-LINE POLICE OFFICERS ARE DESCRIBED. A DISCUSSION OF THE 'Z-COP' IN THE YEAR 2000 AND OF THEORIES OF ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT CONCLUDES THE TEXT. A STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES AND DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOLLOW EACH SECTION. THE BOOK IS INTENDED FOR POLICE ADMINISTRATORS, LINE OFFICERS, AND FOR THE PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY RELATIONS EXPERT AS WELL AS INTERESTED CITIZENS. RESULTS OF A PUBLIC OPINION SURVEY, FOOTNOTES, AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE INCLUDED. (AOP)