NCJ Number
129003
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 58 Issue: 3 Dated: (March 1991) Pages: 20-23
Date Published
1991
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article discusses trends in future policing, particularly community involvement in law enforcement, as a response to a changing society.
Abstract
The old management approaches to police decision-making and delivery of police services, particularly the chain of command concept, need to be replaced with task specific supervision. Thus during an investigation, an officer may report to a detective specializing in criminal investigation, an expert in crime prevention, or an administrative specialist. With this approach, the officers benefit from expertise in different areas, while the department maximizes its use of resources and is more responsive to changes in society. In addition the police decision making process needs to allow citizen involvement and flexibility within the organizational structure, while maintaining traditional paramilitary characteristics. In meeting the challenges of the future, police chiefs must assume a strong leadership role in strategic planning and the multilevel perspective. They must demonstrate awareness, support service partners and community resources, develop confidence, and espouse demilitarization. Neighborhood policing and its various applications provide the police chief with a successful approach to a changing society.