NCJ Number
62812
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 46 Issue: 11 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1979) Pages: 22-24
Date Published
1979
Length
3 pages
Annotation
A POLICE CHIEF URGES CAUTION IN THE PURSUIT OF TWO POSSIBLY CONFLICTING POLICE OBJECTIVES, POSITIVE POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND POLICE PROFESSIONALISM.
Abstract
THE QUESTION IS WHETHER THE DRIVE FOR PROFESSIONALISM SHOULD BE FULL SPEED AHEAD WITHOUT REGARD FOR NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES FOR THE PUBLIC INTEREST, NAMELY OPEN RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITY. A POLICE DEPARTMENT REGULATES ITS OWN CONDUCT AND MAY DEVELOP ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS THAT ARE IN CONFLICT WITH OFFICERS SWORN DUTY. THE LIABILITIES OF PROFESSIONALISM FOR POLICE INCLUDE TIME TAKEN AWAY FROM SERVICE TO STRENGTHEN POLICE'S PUBLIC IMAGE THROUGH SPEECHES AND PRESS RELEASES, CONCENTRATION ON SUBSTANTIAL ACADEMIC WORK, AND LICENSING OF POLICE OFFICERS. PROBLEMS THAT ARISE HERE ARE THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE PROFESSIONAL'S IDEA OF HIS OR HER JOB AND THE PUBLIC VIEW, ALLEGIANCE TO THE CITIZENRY RATHER THAN TO THE COUNTY OR CITY THAT IS ACTING AS EMPLOYER, AND A STANDARDSETTING PROCESS THAT ADHERES MORE TO THE IDEA OF THE POLICE AS PROFESSIONAL THAN TO THE NEEDS OF A SPECIFIC COMMUNITY. ADDITIONAL DANGERS ARE THE CHANCES OF OVERSPECIALIZATION OF OFFICERS WITH THE CONCOMITANT DECREASE IN THE RANGE OF POLICING SKILLS FOR A SPECIFIED OFFICER. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT AN AWARENESS OF THE TENSION BETWEEN PROFESSIONALISM AND THE COMMUNITY NEED FOR A TYPE OF SERVICE INDIVIDUAL IS NEEDED. (RFC)