NCJ Number
99242
Date Published
1985
Length
8 pages
Annotation
A police chief identifies and discusses some incontestable and contestable principles for police chief-mayor relations, comments on mayoral involvement in police matters, and examines the chief's role as a major municipal policymaker.
Abstract
One incontestable principle for the chief-mayor relationship is that the mayor is the boss as the chief executive officer of the city. Others are that (1) the mayor has an essential role in interpreting police performance to the citizenry, (2) the police chief has an expertise that should be used by the mayor in governing the city, and (3) the chief must have authority to manage daily police operations. Some 'gray' areas in chief-mayor relationships are policy in the police use of deadly force and response to citizen complaints against the police. The mayor's involvement in police matters should generally consist of guidance on priorities and broad policing goals. Mayors should not become involved in detailed policy implementation decisions. This is the chief's expertise and management responsibility. The police chief also has a role to fulfill as a major municipal policymaker, not only in policing matters but in providing input for policies in other areas of criminal justice.