POLICE ORGANIZATIONS - THEIR CHANGING INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL RELATIONSHIPS

• NCJ Number: 16824
• Journal: Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 2 Issue: 4 Dated: (DECEMBER 1974) Pages: 458-463
• Author(s): G B SANDLER; E MINTZ
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 6 pages
• Corporate Author: International Assoc of Chiefs of Police; Northwestern University
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

RELYING LARGELY ON EXAMPLES FROM THE NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT, THIS ARTICLE DEPLORES THE HISTORICAL PARAMILITARY ORGANIZATION OF POLICE DEPARTMENTS AND DISCUSSES EFFORTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE TO CHANGE IT.

Abstract

THE AUTHORS FIRST ELABORATE ON THE HARMFUL EFFECTS THAT THE PARAMILITARY STRUCTURE HAS BOTH WITHIN THE POLICE ORGANIZATION AND IN ITS DEALINGS WITH THE PUBLIC. IT TENDS TO PROMOTE AUTHORITARIAN THOUGHT PROCESSES AND UNSATISFACTORY ENCOUNTERS WITH THE PUBLIC. THE MAJOR INDICATIONS OF CHANGE INCLUDE BREAKING DOWN THE RIGIDITY OF THE ORGANIZATION, 'HUMANIZING' ITS IMAGE, AND REDUCING DISTANCE BETWEEN ADMINISTRATION AND OPERATIONS, POLICE AND CIVILIANS. NOMENCLATURE AND OVERT SYMBOLISM APPEAR TO BE THE FIRST (IF NOT ONLY) INDICATORS OF CHANGE. THE AUTHORS ALSO CONTEND THAT A NEW OVERALL ADMINISTRATIVE PHILOSOPHY, PARTICIPATIVE MANAGEMENT, IS EMERGING.