NCJ Number
51072
Date Published
1978
Length
12 pages
Annotation
REASONS FOR POOR ACCEPTANCE OF NEW RESOURCE-ALLOCATION TECHNIQUES ARE EXPLORED. THE PROBLEMS ARE SEEN AS BOTH TECHNICAL AND BEHAVIORAL WITH THE PERSONNEL FACTORS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE TECHNICAL.
Abstract
THIS DISCUSSION IS BASED ON THREE CASE HISTORIES PRESENTED IN OTHER CHAPTERS OF THE BOOK: THE ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, MANPOWER DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM; THE BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, PATROL RESOURCE ALLOCATION MODEL; AND THE LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ADAM HISTORICAL REPORTING SYSTEM. OF THE THREE ONLY THE LOS ANGELES SYSTEM IS STILL IN USE AND THAT ONLY FOR HISTORICAL REPORTS AND NOT FOR PATROL DEPLOYMENT. PATTERNS OF IMPLEMENTATION COMMON IN ALL THREE CASES ARE EXAMINED. THE LACK OF ACCEPTANCE IS ATTRIBUTED TO THE NARROW BASE OF INTEREST AND SUPPORT FOR THE NEW TECHNOLOGY IN EACH POLICE DEPARTMENT. BOTH HEADQUARTERS STAFF AND FIELD STAFF WERE AMBIVALENT ABOUT THE COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY. WHEN PROBLEMS DEVELOPED THEIR ATTITUDES QUICKLY CHANGED TO SUSPICION OR HOSTILITY. THE TECHNOLOGY ALSO LED TO SEVERE MORALE PROBLEMS AMONG PATROL OFFICERS BECAUSE CIVILIANS DOMINATED THE PROGRAMS AND PATROL OFFICERS WERE NOT INVOLVED IN PLANNING THE PROJECTS. ALSO, THE NEW DEPLOYMENT SCHEDULES MADE THE PATROL OFFICER'S JOB HARDER. THE SHIFTS WERE CONFUSING, BEATS CHANGED FREQUENTLY, INDIVIDUAL WISHES WERE DIFFICULT TO ACCOMMODATE, AND MANY UNPOPULAR TRANSFERS WERE NECESSARY. WHEN NEW ADMINISTRATIONS WISHED TO DISCONTINUE THE COMPUTER-ASSISTED PATROL DEPLOYMENT, THE FIELD FORCE SUPPORTED THE DECISION. TWO MORE ADVANCED MODELING EFFORTS, THE PATROL CAR ALLOCATION MODEL, AND THE HYPERCUBE MODEL, OFFER MORE FLEXIBILITY IN DECISIONMAKING AND OVERCOME EARLIER OBJECTIONS. HOWEVER, THE BASIC PROBLEMS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW TECHNOLOGY REMAIN AND, IN GENERAL, SUCH TECHNIQUES DO NOT RECEIVE WIDE SUPPORT AMONG LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS. NOTES AND REFERENCES ARE APPENDED. (GLR)