PROFESSIONAL IMAGE OF THE SENIOR OFFICER IN THE POLICE SERVICE

• NCJ Number: 67750
• Journal: POLIZEI Volume: 69 Issue: 8 Dated: (AUGUST 8, 1978) Pages: 237-248
• Author(s): G WOLF
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 12 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: German
• Country: West Germany (Former)

Annotation

THE PREREQUISITES FOR SUCCESSFUL POLICE LEADERSHIP ARE DISCUSSED.

Abstract

ATTITUDES NECESSARY FOR COMMAND ARE THE DESIRE TO LEAD AND TO INNOVATE, AS WELL AS THE ABILITY TO ORGANIZE TIME. ALSO NEEDED ARE INSIGHT INTO THE MENTALITY OF COLLEAGUES AND THEIR FAMILIES; SELF-CONTROL, THINKING POSITIVE AND EXEMPLARY PERSONAL HABITS AND BEHAVIOR. SUITABILITY FOR SENIOR COMMAND POSITIONS IS DEPENDENT ON SPECIALIZED, CURRENT KNOWLEDGE OF THE FIELD COMBINED WITH PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE. THE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE WITH OTHERS IN SPEECHES, NEGOTIATIONS, REPORTS, AND DISCUSSIONS IS REQUIRED AS IS THE ABILITY TO CREATE A HEALTHY GROUP ATMOSPHERE. PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT SKILLS INCLUDE TRAINING NEW EMPLOYEES, RESOLVING CONFLICTS, REORGANIZING SYSTEMS, TRANSFERRING EMPLOYEES WITHOUT CREATING BAD FEELINGS, SHOWING CONCERN FOR WORKERS' INDIVIDUAL PROBLEMS, AND MAINTAINING A BALANCE BETWEEN CLOSENESS AND DISTANCE IN STAFF RELATIONSHIPS. THE COMMANDER MUST ALSO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE INTELLECTUAL LEADERSHIP SO THAT GOALS AND METHODS CAN BE DEFINED AND ATTAINED IN THE GIVEN FRAMEWORK OF REGULATIONS WITH THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE. IT IS THE COMMANDERS' DUTY TO INFORM AND MOTIVATE EMPLOYEES, TO MAKE DECISIONS, TO DIVIDE LABOR, AND TO GIVE ORDERS, ENCOURAGING COOPERATION AND BRAINSTORMING. THEY MUST ALSO COORDINATE EMPLOYEES' ACTIVITIES, EVALUATE THEIR SUCCESS, AND SUPERVISE SUBORDINATES' EFFORTS USING SPOT CHECKS AND OPEN QUESTIONING METHODS. EMPLOYEE EVALUATION SHOULD BE FOLLOWED UP WITH SPECIFIC PRAISE OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND CRITICAL DISCUSSION OF WEAKNESSES OR INAPPROPRIATE ACTIONS. POLICE COMMANDERS MUST ALSO BE CAPABLE OF DEVELOPING PERSONNEL IN KEEPING WITH CONCEPTION OF THE ORGANIZATION, OF REPRESENTING THE ORGANIZATION TO OTHER AGENCIES, THE PRESS, AND THE PUBLIC AND OF IMPROVING POLICE-COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDING THROUGH PUBLIC RELATIONS WORK. IT IS STRESSED THAT THE COMMANDER'S TASKS ARE INTERRELATED AND CAN ONLY BE ACCOMPLISHED WITH NATURAL TALENT AND OUTSTANDING TRAINING. A BIBLIOGRAPHY AND ILLUSTRATION ARE SUPPLIED. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)