NCJ Number
53152
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 45 Issue: 12 Dated: (DECEMBER 1978) Pages: 53-55
Date Published
1978
Length
3 pages
Annotation
AN ALTERNATIVE TO TERRITORIAL PATROL IS SUGGESTED IN THE DEPLOYMENT OF PATROL PERSONNEL ACCORDING TO ANALYZED NEEDS TO BE MET BY THE USE OF PERSONNEL TO ACCOMPLISH PREDETERMINED OBJECTIVES.
Abstract
IT IS NOTED THAT STANDARD PATROL ADMINISTRATION CONSIDERS THAT PATROL OFFICERS MUST BE CONTAINED, ACCORDING TO WORKLOAD, IN INDEPENDENT TERRITORIAL SECTORS IN A PRECINCT SO THAT MAXIMUM PATROL COVERAGE CAN BE ACHIEVED. SUCH A PROCEDURE ASSUMES THAT GREATER ACCOUNTABILITY, CLOSER COMMUNITY TIES, AND MORE EFFECTIVE PATROL SUPERVISION ARE POSSIBLE WHEN AN OFFICER'S TERRITORIAL RESPONSIBILITY IS SO NARROWLY DEFINED. IT IS ARGUED THAT SUCH A STRUCTURE FOR PATROL DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A REALISTIC AND EFFECTIVE RESPONSE TO SITUATIONS REQUIRING VARYING AMOUNTS AND KINDS OF PERSONNEL DEPLOYMENT. UNDER THE ORGANIZATIONAL DESIGN CALLED 'POLICING BY OBJECTIVES,' ALL PATROL PERSONNEL SHARE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL POLICE MATTERS OCCURRING IN A SIZEABLE GEOGRAPHIC AREA. DEPENDING ON DEPARTMENT SIZE, THAT AREA MIGHT BE A PRECINCT OR AN ENTIRE CITY. SUCH A STRUCTURE WOULD ALLOW FOR THE DEPLOYMENT OF PERSONNEL IN THE STRENGTH AND AT LOCATIONS WHERE AND WHEN IT IS MOST NEEDED. PATROL OFFICERS WOULD SHARE EQUAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL INCOMING WORK ON A SHIFT, AND A PATROL FORCE WOULD OPERATE ACCORDING TO PREPLANNED TACTICS TO MEET CLEARLY DEFINED OBJECTIVES. SHIFT PERSONNEL WOULD SHARE PROBLEMS AND INFORMATION IN DECIDING UPON THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY OF POLICING A PRECINCT. WAYS IN WHICH THIS METHOD OF PATROL WOULD SERVE THE NEED FOR ACCONTABILITY, COMMUNITY RELATIONS, AND PERSONNEL SUPERVISION ARE DISCUSSED. (RCB)