NCJ Number
60465
Date Published
Unknown
Length
13 pages
Annotation
THE FUNCTIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE POLICE SERGEANT OR FIRST-LINE SUPERVISOR ARE DISCUSSED IN TERMS OF SPECIFIC TASK ASSIGNMENTS AND REQUISITE ORIENTATION AND ATTITUDES.
Abstract
THE ROLE OF THE POLICE SERGEANT OR FIRST-LINE SUPERVISOR IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ROLES IN ANY POLICE DEPARTMENT. TRADITIONALLY, THE ROLE HAS BEEN RELEGATED TO A POSITION OF INFERIORITY WITHOUT A CLEAR DEFINITION OF DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND AUTHORITY. IN GENERAL, THE POSITION INVOLVES GETTING THE JOB DONE THROUGH OTHERS, MAINTAINING THE STANDARDS OF THE DEPARTMENT, AND CREATING AND MAINTAINING COOPERATION WITH EMPLOYEES. IN MANY DEPARTMENTS, THE ROLE BECOMES WHAT THE POLICE ADMINISTRATOR WISHES IT TO BE. IT CAN BE AN INTEGRAL PART OF MANAGEMENT, OR IT CAN BE A MEANINGLESS CHORE LACKING IN PRESTIGE. DESPITE THESE VARIATIONS, BASIC ORIENTATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SUCCESSFUL SERGEANT CAN BE IDENTIFIED: (1) THE FIRST-LINE SUPERVISOR MUST ACT IN BEHALF OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ITS LEADERS, (2) THE SERGEANT MUST TRAIN AND DEVELOP HUMAN RESOURCES, (3) PERSONNEL EFFORTS MUST BE COORDINATED, BOTH AMONG AND WITHIN EXISTING GROUPS; (4) THE SERGEANT MUST PLACE EMPLOYEES IN POSITIONS APPROPRIATE TO THEIR CAPABILITIES AND INTERESTS; (5) INTERNAL CONFLICTS SHOULD BE RESOLVED, WHETHER THESE CONFLICTS ARE PERSONAL OR JOB ORIENTED; (6) LONG-RANGE PLANNING FOR THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE ORGANIZATION MUST BE IMPLEMENTED; AND (7) THE SERGEANT MUST PROVIDE LEADERSHIP TO PERSONNEL THROUGH PLANNING, ORGANIZATION, DIRECTION, AND CONTROL. MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT IS ONE FIRST-LINE SUPERVISOR'S MAIN RESPONSIBILITY TO BE AN EVALUATOR IN THE CONTINUOUS APPRAISAL OF SUBORDINATES; EVERY EFFORT SHOULD BE MADE TO CORRECT OBSERVED DEFICIENCIES. FOOTNOTE REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED IN THE PAPER.