CONSOLIDATION OF URBAN PUBLIC SERVICES - A FOCUS ON THE POLICE

• NCJ Number: 39449
• Journal: Public Administration Review Volume: 37 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1977) Pages: 38-47
• Author(s): H P PACHON; N P LOVRICH
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 10 pages
• Corporate Author: American Soc. for Public Admin
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS ARTICLE REVIEWS THE BODY OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION LITERATURE WHICH IS HIGHLY CRITICAL OF MUNICIPAL CONSOLIDATION, AND, IN PARTICULAR, AS CONSOLIDATION RELATES TO THE PROVISION OF POLICE SERVICES.

Abstract

CONSIDERED ARE THE MAJOR ASSERTIONS WHICH THE 'ANTI-CONSOLIDATIONISTS' MAKE IN SPECIFIC REFERENCE TO THE CONSOLIDATION OF URBAN POLICE DEPARTMENTS: 1) THAT LARGER POLICE DEPARTMENTS ARE NOT MORE EFFICIENT OR ECONOMICAL; AND 2) THAT CITIZEN SATISFACTION WITH URBAN POLICE SERVICES VARIES INVERSELY WITH THE SIZE OF THE MUNICIPALITY. ON THE FIRST ASSERTION THE AUTHORS FIND THAT EVIDENCE IS STILL INCONCLUSIVE REGARDING THE ECONOMY AND EFFICIENCY OF LARGER POLICE DEPARTMENTS. TO EVALAUTE THE SECOND ASSERTION CAMPBELL AND SCHUMAN'S STUDY OF CITIZEN ATTITUDES IN 15 AMERICAN CITIES WAS REANALYZED. THE RESULTS INDICATE THAT, CONTRARY TO THE ANTI-CONSOLIDATIONIST VIEW POINT, CITIZEN SATISFACTION WITH POLICE SERVICES IS MORE A REFLECTION OF THE DIFFERENTIATED SOCIOECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF CENTRAL CITIES AND SUBURBAN CITIES THAN A FUNCTION OF CITY SIZE. EVIDENCE FURTHER SUGGESTS THAT 'IF ALL THINGS WERE EQUAL,' LARGER JURISDICTIONS WOULD PRODUCE MORE SATISFYING POLICE SERVICES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)