NCJ Number
86465
Journal
Qualitative Sociology Volume: 3 Issue: 4 Dated: (Winter 1980) Pages: 272-298
Date Published
1980
Length
27 pages
Annotation
This article examines types of role strategies police use to gain control over perceived oppositional group activity.
Abstract
Literature on formal organizations and police structures are deficient in terms of examining the combined effect of presenting multiple images of an organization to an oppositional group. Boundary-spanning roles vary in terms of discretion, penetration, and secrecy. The study uses data from the 1976 Republican Convention to identify the four types of boundary-spanning role used to gain control over demonstrator activity. The four strategies involved police command and planning staff (to which the demonstrators had no access) and the use of uniformed officers, plainclothes police, and undercover agents. While each role served an important control function, in combination the roles presented an inconsistent and contradictory image of police to the demonstrators. The effect of this strategy was to create confusion in the demonstrators' strategies and tactics. Reference notes and over 40 references are included. (Author abstract modified)