USE OF FIELD PERFORMANCE MEASURES TO VALIDATE POLICE SELECTION CRITERIA

• NCJ Number: 58217
• Journal: Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 7 Issue: 2 Dated: (JUNE 1979) Pages: 211-214
• Author(s): A F CARR; L D LARSON; J F SCHNELLE; R E KIRCHNER
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 4 pages
• Corporate Author: International Assoc of Chiefs of Police
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A SYSTEM OF FORMAL PERFORMANCE EVALUATION AND FEEDBACK FOCUSING ON REPORT WRITING AND PATROL ACTIVITIES ARE DISCUSSED.

Abstract

TWO OBJECTIVE MEASURES OF POLICE PERFORMANCE WERE DEVELOPED AND SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED BY THE NASHVILLE (TENN.) POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE FIRST PROGRAM INVOLVED USE OF A TACHOGRAPH, A MECHANICAL DEVICE WHICH CONNECTS ELECTRICALLY TO THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION OF POLICE VEHICLES. WITHIN THE TACHOGRAPH, A PAPER CHART ROTATES ONCE IN 24 HOURS WHILE LINES ON A CHART INDICATE VEHICLE FUNCTIONS SUCH AS ROAD SPEED, MILEAGE, ENGINE SPEED, AND AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OPERATION. OVER A 1-YEAR PERIOD, OFFICERS USED TACHOGRAPH CHARTS FOR EACH SHIFT; ALONG WITH THE COMPLETED CHART, THE OFFICER SUBMITTED AN ACTIVITY SHEET RECORDING THE TIME, LOCATION, AND TYPE OF ACTIVITY ENGAGED IN DURING EACH SHIFT. THE COMBINED TACHOGRAPH CHART AND ACTIVITY SHEET PROVIDED A COMPLETE RECORD OF ROUTINE PATROL ACTIVITIES. REVIEW OF TACHOGRAPH CHARTS AND ACTIVITY SHEETS BY SUPERVISORS PROVIDED THE BASIC MEASURE OF OFFICER PERFORMANCE, EXCESSIVE SPEED, UNEXPLAINED OFF-DUTY DRIVING, AND DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN LISTED ACTIVITIES AND DRIVING PATTERNS WERE IMMEDIATELY APPARENT, AND COSTLY VEHICLE MISUSE DECREASED RAPIDLY. SIMILARLY, THE SYSTEM OF SUPERVISION, FEEDBACK, AND MONITORING DEVELOPED IN THE TACHOGRAPH PROGRAM ALSO WAS EMPLOYED IN THE REPORT WRITING PROGRAM. REPORT WRITING WAS CHOSEN AS A MEASUREMENT TARGET BECAUSE OF THE CENTRAL ROLE WRITTEN REPORTS PLAY IN POLICE WORK. IN THE REPORT EVALUATION PROCESS, SERGEANTS RANDOMLY SELECTED TWO REPORTS FOR DAILY REVIEW; COMPLETE REPORTS WERE COMMENDED, AND INACCURATE REPORTS WERE RETURNED TO THE OFFICER FOR CORRECTION. BECAUSE OF MONTHLY REVIEW BY SUPERVISORS, THE REPORT WRITING EVALUATION PROGRAM RESULTED IN A RAPID AND STABLE IMPROVEMENT IN REPORT QUALITY. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT SUCH OBJECTIVE MEASUREMENT PROGRAMS ARE USEFUL BECAUSE THEY ESTABLISH EMPIRICAL PERFORMANCE STANDARDS WHICH THEN CAN BE CORRELATED WITH APPROPRIATE PERSONNEL SELECTION CRITERIA. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (LWM)