NCJ Number
46252
Date Published
1977
Length
29 pages
Annotation
THE EVOLUTION OF THE TEAM POLICING CONCEPT IN SYRACUSE IS TRACED, INCLUDING STRATEGIES AND PROBLEMS OF IMPLEMENTATION, EXPANSION, AND INCORPORATION.
Abstract
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF TEAM POLICING ORGANIZATION WHICH DIFFER FROM THOSE OF TRADITIONAL POLICE ORGANIZATION ARE DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: IN TEAM POLICING, OFFICERS PATROL A SPECIFIC GEOGRAPHIC AREA AS PART OF A TEAM; THE SAME COMMANDER IS CONSTANTLY IN A GIVEN DISTRICT, AND DISCRETION IS GIVEN TO THE TEAM LEADER IN SCHEDULING, UNIFORMS, AND THE SETTING OF PRIORITIES; A STRONG PROGRAM OF INTERACTION EXISTS BETWEEN THE POLICE AND THE INDIVIDUALS IN THEIR DISTRICTS; THERE IS A COMBINATION OF PATROL AND INVESTIGATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES WITHIN THE TEAM, ACHIEVED EITHER BY ASSIGNING DETECTIVES TO WORK WITH THE TEAM OR BY GIVING COMPLETE INVESTIGATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE TEAM; THE TEAM HAS COMPLETE JURISDICTION FOR ALL POLICE PROBLEMS IN ITS AREA; AND REFERRAL SYSTEMS ARE ESTABLISHED SO THAT POLICE CAN BRING NONPOLICE COMMUNITY PROBLEMS TO THE ATTENTION OF RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. IN SYRACUSE, THE COALITION THAT ORIGINALLY ADOPTED THE TEAM POLICING CONCEPT WAS COMPOSED OF THE POLICE CHIEF, A CONSULTANT FROM A LOCAL GENERAL ELECTRIC PLANT, AND, TO A LIMITED EXTENT, THE MAYOR. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A TEAM IN ONE AREA MET WITH HOSTILITY AND RESISTANCE FROM WITHIN THE RANKS OF THE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE OF THE CHANGE REQUIRED IN MANAGEMENT PATTERNS AND THE FEELING THAT TEAM POLICE RECEIVED SPECIAL TREATMENT. IN SPITE OF THE OPPOSITION, THE FIRST YEAR SAW A REDUCTION IN THE CRIME RATE, AN INCREASE IN ARREST RATES, AND COMMUNITY APPROVAL OF THE NEW TECHNIQUES IN THE AREA SERVED BY TEAM POLICING. UNDER LEAA FUNDING, THE PROGRAM WAS EXPANDED IN THE EARLY 1970'S AND THEN INCORPORATED BY THE CITY OF SYRACUSE WHEN FEDERAL FUNDING ENDED IN 1972. BUDGET CUTS HAVE LED TO MODIFICATIONS IN THE PURE TEAM POLICING CONCEPTS TO INCLUDE SOME OF THE ELEMENTS OF TRADITIONAL OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT. (RCB)