TOWARD AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE CLASSIC POLICE ORGANIZATIONAL ARRANGEMENTS - A DEMOCRATIC MODEL (FROM ISSUES IN POLICE PATROL - A BOOK OF READINGS, 1973, BY T J SWEENEY AND W ELLINGSWORTH - SEE NCJ-25816)

• NCJ Number: 25824
• Author(s): J E ANGELL
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 16 pages
• Corporate Author: Kansas City (MO) Police Dept; Police Foundation
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

CLASSICAL POLICE ORGANIZATION AND THE PROBLEMS RESULTING FROM THIS ORGANIZATION ARE DESCRIBED, AND A PROPOSAL FOR A NEW POLICE ORGANIZATION UTILIZING THREE EQUAL AND DECENTRALIZED SECTIONS IS OUTLINED.

Abstract

THE CLASSIC POLICE MODEL, WHICH UTILIZES A CENTRALIZED HIERARCHY, DIVISION OF LABOR, ESTABLISHED CAREER ROUTES, STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES, AND VERTICAL CHAINS OF COMMAND, IS DISCUSSED. PROBLEMS RELATED TO THIS POLICE BUREAUCRACY WERE FOUND TO BE: THE STATE OF POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS; THE STATE OF MORALE AMONG POLICE EMPLOYEES; AND THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION AND CONTROL IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. THE PROPOSED MODEL CONSISTS OF THREE PRIMARY SECTIONS - GENERAL SERVICES, COORDINATION AND INFORMATION, AND SPECIALIZED SERVICES. FORMAL RANKS, FORMAL SUPERVISORS, AND HIERARCHICAL ARRANGEMENTS WOULD NOT BE USED. THE GENERAL SERVICES SECTION WOULD CONSIST ENTIRELY OF POLICE GENERALISTS WITH EQUAL RANK, ALL ASSIGNED TO SEPCIFIC GEOGRAPHIC AREAS. THE COORDINATION AND INFORMATION SECTION WOULD BE MADE UP OF FUNCTIONAL SUPERVISION UNITS, A PLANNING UNIT, AND SUPPORT UNITS SUCH AS RECORDS AND COMMUNICATIONS. THE SPECIAL SERVICES SECTION WOULD EMPLOY SPECIALISTS SUCH AS INVESTIGATORS, JUVENILE SPECIALISTS, AND TRAFFIC SPECIALISTS, AND WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO ASSIST THE GENERALISTS AT THEIR REQUEST. THIS ORGANIZATION WOULD INCREASE PROFESSIONAL STANDING, MORALE, AND COMMUNICATIONS.