NCJ Number
66698
Date Published
1980
Length
14 pages
Annotation
THE POLICE INSTITUTION MUST BE ABLE TO CHANGE AS THE SOCIETY THAT SUPPORTS IT CHANGES; THIS CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED AT LEAST IN PART THROUGH COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND CHANGES IN THE POLICE BUREAUCRACY.
Abstract
THE TRADITIONAL HIERARCHICAL MODEL OF POLICE MANAGEMENT INCLUDES WORK SPECIALIZATION, RITUALIZED PROCEDURE, AND DISCIPLINE AND FORMALITY. IT RECOGNIZES EFFECTIVE INVESTIGATORS AND ELEVATES THEM TO MANAGEMENT POSITIONS. IT RESISTS CHANGE. INVESTIGATIVE SOLUTIONS GET PRIORITY EVEN THOUGH OTHER ALTERNATIVES MAY PROVIDE MORE LASTING SOLUTIONS. IN THE TRADITIONAL MODEL, THE POLICEMAN APPROACHES THE COMMUNITY WITH A PREDETERMINED SET OF INVESTIGATIVE AND ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES. HOWEVER, A COMMUNITY POLICING MODEL RETAINS THE INGREDIENTS OF THE TRADITIONAL MODEL BUT REQUIRES THE POLICE OFFICER TO ANALYZE THE PROBLEM AND ASSESS THE RELATIVE MERITS OF VARIOUS APPROACHES. THESE APPROACHES VARY FROM COMMUNITY PERFORMANCE IN RELATION TO CERTAIN OFFENSES TO VERY TRADITIONAL POLICE INVESTIGATIVE OR ENFORCEMENT STRATEGIES. OVERALL, A MAJOR DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TRADITIONAL AND COMMUNITY POLICING APPROACH IS THAT THE FORMER FOCUSES ON THE PROCESS WHILE THE LATTER FOCUSES ON RESULTS. IN ADDITION, THE LATTER IMPLIES EMPHASIS ON PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION, LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS, INVOLVEMENT OF BOTH LINE LEVEL AND MANAGEMENT OFFICERS IN DECISIONMAKING, AND GOALS AND OBJECTIVES DETERMINATION. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND INTERACTION IS INDISPENSABLE. THE TYPE OF ACTION TAKEN TO SOLVE A PROBLEM WOULD DEPEND ON THE RESPONSE FROM THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED AND ITS ABILITY TO RESPOND TO THE IDENTIFIED NEED. SEVERAL REFERENCES ARE SUPPLIED. FOUR REFERENCES AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF 11 CITATIONS ARE INCLUDED. (MHP)