NCJ Number
53614
Journal
Canadian Police College Journal Volume: 2 Issue: 4 Dated: (1978) Pages: 351-355
Date Published
1978
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THE OLD AUTHORITARIAN MODEL OF POLICE LEADERSHIP IS SEEN AS INADEQUATE FOR THE NEW CONFLICT SITUATIONS ARISING IN MODERN URBAN SOCIETY. TYPES OF AUTHORITY WHICH ALLOW FOR GREATER FLEXIBILITY ARE URGED.
Abstract
THE COMAND-ORIENTED BUREAUCRACY TRADITIONAL IN PARAMILITARY POLICE FORCES WAS SUITABLE FOR THE ROUTINE TASKS THAT CHARACTERIZED THE POLICE FUNCTION IN A STABLE SOCIETY. HOWEVER, CONTEMPORARY PROBLEMS SUCH AS COMMERCIAL CRIME, RACIAL VIOLENCE, AND POLITICAL TERRORISM CANNOT BE HANDLED WELL BY RIGID METHODS. TYPES OF MANAGEMENT WHICH HAVE BEEN PIONEERED IN BUSINESS ARE FAR MORE EFFECTIVE IN OBTAINING THE COOPERATION AND LOYALTY OF SUBORDINATES WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL FOR FLEXIBLE POLICE OPERATION. MORE INNOVATIVE POLICE FORCES HAVE ALREADY BEGUN TO PLACE GREATER EMPHASIS ON DECISIONMAKING, EXERCISING INITIATIVE, THE ASSUMPTION OF RESPONSIBILITY, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF GOOD INTERPERSONAL AND COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS. FORMAL AUTHORITY ALSO NEEDS TO BE DISTINGUISHED FROM EFFECTIVE CONTROL. OFTEN THE PERSON WITH THE GREATEST POSITION OF AUTHORITY IS NOT THE ONE WHO HAS THE GREATEST POWER. ALSO, CONTRARY TO POPULAR ASSUMPTIONS, PURE POWER WHICH FORCES INDIVIDUALS TO DO SOMETHING AGAINST THEIR WILL SELDOM EXISTS, EVEN IN TRADITIONAL POLICE ORGANIZATIONS. THE POLICE CHIEF SURVIVES ONLY AS LONG AS HE RESPONDS TO THE WEB OF RELATIONSHIPS SURROUNDING HIM. ULTIMATELY ALL AUTHORITY DERIVES ITS LEGITIMACY FROM THE SUPERIOR'S ABILITY, PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE, AND SKILL IN WINNING THE COOPERATION OF OTHERS. THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUCH SENSITIVE AND COMPETENT LEADERSHIP IS ESSENTIAL IF POLICE ORGANIZATIONS ARE TO FULFILL THEIR ROLE IN A RAPIDLY CHANGING SOCIETY. (GLR)