NCJ Number
25801
Date Published
1972
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THE COMMON MISTAKE OF EVALUATING POLICE PERFORMANCE BY THE SAME PARAMETERS AS OTHER MUNICIPAL SERVICES HAS MINIMIZED THE ROLE OF LOCAL POLITICAL INFLUENCE ON DAILY POLICE DECISIONS.
Abstract
IN FACT, DELIBERATE COMMUNITY CHOICES RARELY HAVE MORE THAN A LIMITED EFFECT ON POLICE BEHAVIOR, THOUGH THEY MAY OFTEN HAVE A GREAT EFFECT ON POLICE PERSONNEL, BUDGETS, PAY LEVELS, AND ORGANIZATION. HOW THE POLICE, ESPECIALLY THE PATROLMEN, HANDLE THE ROUTINE SITUATIONS THAT BRING THEM MOST FREQUENTLY INTO CONTACT WITH THE PUBLIC CAN BE DETERMINED BY EXPLICIT POLITICAL DECISIONS ONLY TO THE EXTENT THAT SUCH BEHAVIOR CAN BE DETERMINED BY THE EXPLICIT DECISIONS OF THE POLICE ADMINISTRATOR, AND THE ADMINISTRATOR'S ABILITY TO CONTROL THE DISCRETION OF HIS SUBORDINATES IS IN MANY CASES QUITE LIMITED BY THE NATURE OF THE SITUATION AND THE LEGAL CONSTRAINTS THAT GOVERN POLICE BEHAVIOR. THE MAINTENANCE OF ORDER, UNLESS IT INVOLVES THE CONTROL OF LARGE DISORDERS (A RIOT, FOR EXAMPLE), IS VERY HARD TO BRING UNDER ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL AND THUS VERY HARD TO BRING UNDER POLITICAL CONTROL - AT LEAST INSOFAR AS POLITICS OPERATES THROUGH THE MAKING OF CONSCIOUS DECISIONS BY FORMAL INSTITUTIONS (MAYORS, CITY COUNCILS, AND THE LIKE). AND SOME LAW ENFORCEMENT SITUATIONS, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN WHICH THE POLICE RESPONSE IS CITIZEN-INVOKED, OFFER FEW OPPORTUNITIES TO THE ADMINISTRATOR - AND THUS TO HIS POLITICAL SUPERIORS - FOR CHANGING THE NATURE OR THE OUTCOME OF POLICE ACTION. AS A RESULT, THE CHOICE OF A POLICE ADMINISTRATOR AND THE MOLDING OF HIS ROLE IS A POLITICAL CONSIDERATION OF PRIMARY CONCERN. IF A CHIEF IS SELECTED WHOSE POLICIES ARE CONSISTENT WITH LOCAL NORMS HE CAN EXPECT LITTLE PUBLIC INTEREST IN HIS DAILY DECISIONS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)