NCJ Number
59674
Journal
Police Magazine Volume: 2 Issue: 5 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1979), 36-38
Date Published
1979
Length
3 pages
Annotation
FOCUSING ON THE NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT'S (NYPD'S) COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION, THIS ARTICLE DISCUSSES POLICE INABILITY TO USE MODERN TECHNOLOGY EFFECTIVELY OR TO INTEGRATE CIVILIAN TECHNOCRATS INTO THE SYSTEM.
Abstract
POLICE ARE FACED WITH AN INTIMIDATING ARRAY OF MODERN TECHNOLOGY, SUCH AS THE NYPD'S NEW 911 COMPUTER-ASSISTED DISPATCHING SYSTEM WITH RADIO CONSOLES, ALARM SYSTEMS, AND TELETYPED NETWORKS. SUCH MODERN EQUIPMENT IS OFTEN OPERATED BY POORLY-SELECTED, INADEQUATELY-TRAINED, UNDERPAID, OVERWORKED, AND DEMORALIZED PERSONNEL. SOME OF THE REASONS WHY COMPETENT CIVILIAN EXPERTS ARE NOT BEING INTEGRATED INTO POLICE COMPUTER OPERATIONS INCLUDE OVERLY RESTRICTIVE CIVIL SERVICE RULES, POLICE UNION RESISTANCE, THE INSULARITY OF POLICE AGENCIES AND THEIR ANTIPATHY TO CIVILIANS, TIGHT POLICE BUDGETS, LOW SALARIES AND LIMITED ADVANCEMENT POTENTIAL FOR QUALIFIED CIVILIAN COMPUTER OPERATORS, AND THE WILLINGNESS OF POLICE MANAGERS TO RELY ON IN-HOUSE 'EXPERTS' WHO ARE UNQUALIFIED. IN 1971, THE NYPD SECURED A SIZABLE GRANT TO HIRE CIVILIAN EXPERTS WHO QUICKLY LEFT THE DEPARTMENT AFTER THE PROJECT ENDED; THE DEPARTMENT WAS ONCE AGAIN WITHOUT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. MEASURES MUST BE TAKEN TO MAKE COMPUTER OPERATIONS MORE EFFECTIVE, INCLUDING ATTRACTING MORE QUALIFIED PERSONNEL BY CHANGING RESTRICTIVE CIVIL SERVICE RULES AND BUILDING A CITYWIDE CAREER LADDER FOR DATA PROCESSING PROFESSIONALS, WITH HIGHER SALARIES AND ADVANCEMENT. BY BRINGING MORE EXPERTISE INTO THE DEPARTMENTS, POLICE PERSONNEL WOULD BE FREED TO DO MORE DIRECT POLICE WORK. IN ADDITION, POLICE EXECUTIVES SHOULD BE TRAINED IN DATA PROCESSING SUPERVISION AND MANAGEMENT BY EMPHASIZING POSITIVE ATTITUDES TOWARD AND TECHNICAL COMPETENCE OF COMPUTER SYSTEMS. POLICE DEPARTMENTS SHOULD ALSO RECRUIT MORE COLLEGE GRADUATES WHO HAVE GAINED SOME DATA PROCESSING BACKGROUND DURING THE COURSE OF THEIR EDUCATION. FURTHERMORE, EFFECTIVE USE OF COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY REQUIRES CONSOLIDATION OF THOUSANDS OF SMALL DEPARTMENTS AROUND THE NATION, A TREND THAT SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED. FINALLY, GUIDELINES AND CONTROLS ARE NEEDED OVER COLLECTING, RECORDING, AND USING COMPUTER DATA TO MAINTAIN STRICT OBSERVANCE OF THE LAW'S REQUIREMENTS. A FEW ILLUSTRATIONS ARE PROVIDED. (WJR)