NCJ Number
45529
Date Published
1976
Length
71 pages
Annotation
THE PROCESS USED TO IDENTIFY POLICE TRAFFIC SERVICE TASKS WHICH ARE SUITABLE FOR A JOB DESCRIPTION AND PERSONNEL EVALUATION IS DESCRIBED IN THIS BACKGROUND REPORT.
Abstract
THE LITERATURE SEARCH, QUESTIONNAIRES USED IN FILED WORK, AND THE TESTING OF VARIOUS JOB DESCRIPTION CONCEPTS ARE DESCRIBED IN THIS TECHNICAL REPORT PREPARED FOR THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, APRIL 1976. THE FINAL JOB DESCRIPTION RESULTING FROM THIS WORK IS CONTAINED IN A SEPARATE DOCUMENT. THIS BACKGROUND PAPER EXAMINES THE FEASIBILITY OF PERFORMANCE MEASURES FOR TRAFFIC PATROLMEN, THE WAY SUCH FACTORS COULD BE OBSERVED AND QUANTIFIED, THE ROLE OF TRAINING IN IMPROVING TRAFFIC CONTROL FUNCTIONS, AND VARIABLES WHICH COULD AFFECT PERFORMANCE. THE SUBJECT IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE PATROL OFFICERS OFTEN SPEND UP TO 50 PERCENT OF THEIR TIME IN TRAFFIC LAW ENFORCEMENT AND, FREQUENTLY, MORE SERIOUS CRIMES ARE UNCOVERED IN THE COURSE OF ROUTINE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT. LITERATURE SEARCH IDENTIFIED A SERIES OF MEASURABLE FACTORS, WHICH WERE THEN FIELD TESTED. THESE TESTS CONCLUDED THAT JOB EVALUATIONS WERE FEASIBLE, COULD IMPROVE PERFORMANCE, AND AND COULD IDENTIFY AREAS IN WHICH FURTHER TRAINING OR BETTER ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT WERE NEEDED. THE DATA COLLECTION INTERVIEW FORMS, INCLUDED IN AN APPENDIX, FOCUSED ON TRAFFIC CONTROL AND DIRECTING, ACCIDENT MANAGEMENT, TRAFFIC LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM SURVEILLANCE THROUGH REPORT WRITING TO COURT APPEARANCES, ANCILLARY SERVICES TO MOTORISTS, AND SUPPORT ACTIVITIES FOR OTHER POLICE DIVISIONS. JUSTICE SYSTEM INTERACTION AND REGULATORY ACTIVITIES WERE ALSO SURVEYED. THE JOB DESCRIPTION OUTLINE OBTAINED FOUND THAT TRAFFIC LAW ENFORCEMENT COULD BE DIVIDED INTO SURVEILLANCE OF TRAFFIC (BOTH MOVING PATROL AND ROAD BLOCK), DETECTION OF VARIOUS VIOLATIONS, AND APPREHENSION OF VIOLATOR. ALL OF THESE AREAS COULD BE IMPROVED BY TRAINING; FOR APPREHENSION, TRAINING MUST BE THOROUGH BECAUSE OF POTENTIAL PROBLEMS WHICH MAY ARISE. ACCIDENT SCENE MANAGEMENT AND INVESTIGATION WAS DIVIDED INTO 10 FUNCTIONS INCLUDING SUMMONING APPROPRIATE EMERGENCY AID, GATHERING EVIDENCE, FOLLOWING UP ON LABORATORY TESTS OR OTHER NEEDED EVIDENCE, AND PREPARING REQUIRED REPORTS AND TESTIMONY STATEMENTS. COURT SYSTEM INTERACTION IS EXAMINED AS IS APPROPRIATE MOTORIST ASSISTANCE IN NONACCIDENT SITUATIONS. AN APPENDIX GIVES SAMPLE PAGES FROM THE FULL MODEL JOB DESCRIPTION PRESENTED IN EVALUATION FACTORS FOR PERFORMANCES OF POLICE TRAFFIC SERVICES - MODEL JOB DESCRIPTIONS (NCJ-45530). (GLR) (NCJ-45530). (GLR)