ANTECEDENTS TO IMPLEMENTING SPECIALIZED POLICE UNITS - AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OF ORGANIZATIONAL-ENVIRONMENTAL INTERACTION

• NCJ Number: 66139
• Author(s): J R GREENE
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 248 pages
• Grant Number(s): 77-NI-99-0028
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Thesis/Dissertation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY - DOCTORAL DISSERTATION

Annotation

THE IMPACT OF ORGANIZATIONAL ENVIRONMENT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SPECIAL POLICE UNITS IS EXPLORED IN A STUDY OF 6 PROJECTS INVOLVING 13 LAW ENFORCEMENT JURISDICTIONS IN MICHIGAN.

Abstract

THE SPECIAL PROJECTS STUDIED INCLUDE A COVERT SURVEILLANCE UNIT, SATURATION PATROL UNITS, AND A REGIONAL DETECTIVE BUREAU. ANALYSIS OF INTERVIEW AND SURVEY DATA GATHERED FROM POLICE OFFICERS IN THE AGENCIES INVOLVED IN THE PROJECTS SHOWS THAT RESISTANCE TO SPECIAL UNITS IS GREATEST AMONG COMMAND OFFICERS IN AGENCIES CHARACTERIZED BY A HIGHLY INTEGRATED ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE. IN GENERAL, ORGANIZATIONAL ENVIRONMENT AFFECTS DOMAIN CONSENSUS (AGREEMENT WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION AS TO THE PURPOSE OF THE SPECIAL UNIT), LEVEL OF THREAT PERCEPTION, AND STRATEGIES USED BY THE UNIT TO GAIN ACCEPTANCE--THREE PROCESS VARIABLES WHICH IN TURN AFFECT THE ULTIMATE OUTCOME OF THE SPECIAL PROJECT. THE STUDY REPORT INCLUDES DETAILS OF THE THEORETICAL AND EMPIRICAL COMPONENTS OF THE INVESTIGATION, A GENERAL MODEL OF FACTORS AFFECTING ACCEPTANCE AND USE OF SPECIALIZED POLICE UNITS, AND DISCUSSIONS OF POLICY IMPLICATIONS. SUPPORTING DATA, FOOTNOTES, COPIES OF STUDY INSTRUMENTS, AND OVER 70 REFERENCES ARE ALSO PROVIDED.