QUASI-MILITARY ORGANIZATION OF THE POLICE (FROM ISSUES IN POLICE PATROL - A BOOK OF READINGS, 1973, BY T J SWEENEY AND W ELLINGSWORTH - SEE NCJ-25816)

• NCJ Number: 25822
• Author(s): E BITTNER
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 11 pages
• Corporate Author: Kansas City (MO) Police Dept; Police Foundation
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

THE QUASI-MILITARY STRUCTURE OF THE POLICE MAY BE COUNTERPRODUCTIVE TO EFFORTS TO DEVELOP METHODS FOR THE PROFESSIONAL EXERCISE OF DISCRETION BY PATROLMEN IN CRIME CONTROL AND PEACE-KEEPING ACTIVITIES.

Abstract

THE AUTHOR ASSERTS THAT THE QUASI-MILITARY EMPHASIS ON INTERNAL DISCIPLINE AND OPERATING PROCEDURES IS ACCOMPANIED BY A LACK OF EMPHASIS AND GUIDELINES ON THE ACTUAL POLICE WORK, THAT IS, THE PATROLMAN'S DEALINGS WITH THE CITIZENRY. FURTHERMORE, BECAUSE THE REAL WORK OF THE POLICEMAN IS NOT SET FORTH IN THE REGULATIONS, IT DOES NOT FURNISH HIS SUPERIOR WITH A BASIS FOR JUDGING HIM OTHER THAN BY INTER-DEPARTMENTAL GUIDELINES SUCH AS PRESENTING A NEAT APPEARANCE, CONFORMING PUNCTUALLY TO BEAUROCRATIC ROUTINE, AND BEING VISIBLY ON THE PLACE OF HIS ASSIGNMENT. THE SUPERIOR THEN MAY BE PERCEIVED MERELY AS A DISCIPLINARIAN, THUS FURTHER UNDERMINING HIS LEADERSHIP CAPABILITY IN POLICE WORK IN THE STREET.