NCJ Number
45678
Date Published
1977
Length
20 pages
Annotation
DATA FROM A 1974-75 SURVEY OF POLICE AGENCIES IN 80 METROPOLITAN AREAS ARE CITED IN SUPP0RT OF CHALLENGES TO SOME OF THE ASSUMPTIONS UNDERLYING THE CALL TO ELIMINATE SMALLER DEPARTMENTS.
Abstract
IT IS COMMONLY ASSUMED THAT SMALL DEPARTMENTS DO NOT PROVIDE A FULL RANGE OF SERVICES. SURVEY FINDINGS DEMONSTRATE THAT POLICE DEPARTMENTS DO NOT NEED TO PRODUCE ALL POLICE SERVICES THEMSELVES AS THERE ARE MANY SPECIALIZED AGENCIES AVAILABLE TO SUPPLY AUXILIARY SERVICES. LIKE SMALLER AGENCIES, LARGE DEPARTMENTS OFTEN RELY ON THESE SPECIALIZED PRODUCERS. IT IS ALSO ARGUED BY SOME THAT THE EXISTENCE OF NUMEROUS SMALL AGENCIES MEANS PERSONNEL WASTAGE DUE TO THE NEED FOR SEPARATE ADMINISTRATIONS FOR EACH DEPARTMENT. SURVEY FINDINGS SHOW THAT SMALLER DEPARTMENTS GENERALLY HAVE LOWER PROPORTIONS OF PERSONNEL ASSIGNED TO ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES AND HIGHER PROPORTIONS ASSIGNED TO PATROL. SMALL DEPARTMENTS TYPICALLY PLACE MORE OFFICERS ON THE STREET PER THOUSAND RESIDENTS THAN DO LARGER DEPARTMENTS. ELIMINATING SMALL DEPARTMENTS WOULD HAVE ONLY A MINOR EFFECT ON TOTAL POLICE PATROL IN MOST METROPOLITAN AREAS, BUT THE EFFECT PROBABLY WOULD BE EITHER TO REDUCE ONSTREET PATROL PRESENCE OR TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF POLICE OFFICERS EMPLOYED. SMALL- AND MEDIUM-SIZED POLICE DEPARTMENTS USUALLY ARE RATED MORE FAVORABLY BY CITIZENS THAN LARGE DEPARTMENTS. BOTH LARGE AND SMALL DEPARTMENTS OFFER USEFUL ORGANIZATIONAL ALTERNATIVES. A MIXTURE OF LARGE AND SMALL AGENCIES PRODUCING COMPLEMENTARY SERVICES MAY BE A BETTER ORGANIZATIONAL APPROACH TO THE PROBLEM OF METROPOLITAN POLICING THAN THE CREATION OF ONE LARGE POLICE AGENCY THAT MUST PRODUCE A VARIETY OF SERVICES TO MEET THE DIVERSE DEMANDS OF HETEROGENEOUS POPULATIONS WITHIN THE METROPOLITAN AREA. SUPPORTING DATA ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED-LKM)