EFFECTING RECOMMENDED CHANGES IN POLICE DEPARTMENT ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS - POLICE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE REPORT

• NCJ Number: 43408
• Author(s): R R RICHARDSON
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 40 pages
• Contract Number(s): J-LEAA-002-76
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: Public Admin Service
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS REPORT FOR WALLA WALLA, WASHINGTON, RECOMMENDED A NUMBER OF CHANGES WHICH COULD NOT BE IMPLEMENTED BECAUSE OF PERSONNEL CONFLICTS. THIS DESCRIBES ONSITE WORK BY A POLICE MANAGEMENT EXPERT.

Abstract

IN EARLY 1966, THE CITY MANAGER OF WALLA WALLA, AN AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY IN WASHINGTON WITH A POPULATION OF ABOUT 24,000, REQUESTED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR A NUMBER OF POLICE DEPARTMENT POLICIES. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT CONSULTED BEFORE THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE REPORT WAS DEVELOPED AND PERSONALITY CONFLICTS PREVENTED IMPLEMENTATION. IN EARLY 1977, A CONSULTANT WAS ASKED TO WORK ONSITE TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION. THIS REPORT DESCRIBES HIS EFFORTS TO REESTABLISH COMMUNICATIONS AND THE SETTING UP OF A POLICE MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT MANAGEMENT STAFF, AND TWO PATROL OFFICERS. IT WAS FOUND THAT MANY OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE REPORT WERE ARBITRARY AND NOT THE BEST SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE IS WORKING ON A SHIFT ROTATION SURVEY AND WILL REDESIGN SHIFTS TO MEET OFFICERS' NEEDS. A LIST OF PATROL OFFICERS ELIGIBLE FOR PROMOTION IS BEING PREPARED. THE JAIL MANAGEMENT MANUAL RECOMMENDED BY THE EARLIER REPORT COMPLETELY IGNORED GROUNDWORK NECESSARY FOR SUCH A DOCUMENT; THIS GROUNDWORK IS NOW BEING DONE. A TIMETABLE FOR IMPROVEMENTS HAS BEEN WORKED OUT. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE POLICE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE CONTINUE AS A FORUM FOR CHANGE.