NCJ Number
103000
Date Published
1986
Length
27 pages
Annotation
This first of nine independent study lessons on police supervision identifies the various supervisory roles and responsibilities and describes the relationships between supervisor and subordinates.
Abstract
Supervision is defined as overseeing, directing, and management. The role of the first-level supervisor is balancing the needs of both management and rank-and-file workers. Effective supervision requires an understanding of the needs of subordinates, consistency and consideration, objectives, delegation of responsibility, open communication and participatory decisionmaking, constructive criticism, and public praise. Major supervisory roles include planning, personnel assignment and deployment, training, controlling, and decisionmaking and communication. These roles require technical, managerial, conceptual, and social skills. The supervisory role requires a balance of responsibilities between administration and supervisor. Administration responsibilities include providing a policy framework, establishment of definite objectives, provision of proper training, and clear definition of supervisory authority. Conversely, the supervisor is responsible to the administration for properly using authority, directing activities of subordinates, and ensuring their maximum performance. Similarly, the supervisor should provide leadership, guidance, and assistance to his people; while subordinates should accept this authority, pay proper attention to duty, and keep the supervisor informed. Progress checks and a comprehensive examination are included. For other lessons in this series, see NCJ 103001-103008