NCJ Number
54733
Date Published
1977
Length
20 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY OF THE CINCINNATI, OHIO, TEAM-POLICING TRIAL WHICH RAN FROM 1971 THROUGH 1975 FINDS THAT WHAT BEGAN AS A CIRCUMSCRIBED EFFORT TO DECENTRALIZE DECISIONMAKING BECAME A COMPREHENSIVE CRITIQUE OF POLICING TRADITIONS.
Abstract
THE TEAM-POLICING EXPERIMENT WAS CARRIED OUT IN ONE AREA OF THE CITY WHILE THE REMAINDER OF THE CITY SERVED AS A COMPARISON AREA. EACH TEAM WAS ASSIGNED FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ABOUT 60 SQUARE BLOCKS. THE OFFICERS HAD FULL COMMAND CONCERNING WHICH TASKS WOULD BE CARRIED OUT AND HOW THEY WOULD BE PERFORMED. IT WAS FOUND THAT DECENTRALIZATION OF SOME FUNCTIONS COULD NOT BE PERFORMED WITHOUT CENTRALIZATION OF OTHERS, SUCH AS PURCHASING AND RECORDKEEPING. OFFICERS BECAME MORE AWARE OF PROBLEMS, SUCH AS THE FUTILITY OF JAILING ALCOHOLICS. THIS AWARENESS RESULTED IN POLICE MANAGEMENT BEING PRESSURED TO WORK FOR REHABILITATION CENTERS AND TREATMENT PROGRAMS. TRADITIONAL PERSONNEL PROCEDURES WERE QUESTIONED. MANY TEAMS ADJUSTED STARTING HOURS AND ENDED ROTATION OF SHIFTS, OPTING FOR A STEADY SHIFT WHICH THE OFFICER COULD COUNT ON. TO HANDLE TEAM POLICING A DISPATCH SYSTEM WHICH 'STACKED' CALLS HAD TO BE INSTALLED. SINCE DISPATCHERS DID NOT LIKE STACKED CALLS AND OFFICERS COULD NOT BE SENT IN FROM OTHER DISTRICTS, TEAMS WERE ASKED CONTINUALLY IF THEIR ACTIVITIES WERE REALLY SO IMPORTANT THAT THE NEXT CALL COULD NOT BE ANSWERED. THIS INFORMAL MONITORING WAS THE CLOSEST SUPERVISION PATROLS HAD EVER HAD. THE BIGGEST SHOCK WAS FACED BY MIDDLE MANAGEMENT OFFICERS, WHO LOST THEIR TRADITIONAL POLICE FUNCTIONS AND DID NOT DEVELOP NEW FUNCTIONS, SUCH AS COORDINATION. THIS PROBLEM IS THE REASON THE EXPERIMENT WAS DISCONTINUED. CITIES CONSIDERING TEAM POLICING ARE URGED TO EXAMINE THE POSSIBLE IMPACT AT ALL DEPARTMENTAL LEVELS. ON THE POSITIVE SIDE, CRIME INVESTIGATIONS WERE HANDLED IN A MORE COORDINATED MANNER AND OFFICER MORAL WAS HIGH. FOOTNOTES CONTAIN REFERENCES.