EVALUATION REPORT ON THE MODEL CITIES TEAM POLICING UNIT OF THE HOLYOKE (MA) POLICE DEPARTMENT

• NCJ Number: 16622
• Author(s): J ANGELL; R GALVIN; M O'NEILL; E HAGEDORN; F HAGEDORN; J MOSSEY
• Date Published: 1972
• Length: 113 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Holyoke Model Cities Program
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

DESCRIBES ORGANIZATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF TEAM POLICING AND AN EVALUATION THROUGH SURVEYS OF COMMUNITY AND POLICE ATTITUDES, AND PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANT APPRAISAL.

Abstract

THE TEAM MODEL HAD THE FOLLOWING CHARACTERISTICS - TEAM DECISION-MAKING - DECENTRALIZATION OF SUPERVISION AND OPERATION - COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN POLICY MAKING - AND USE OF CENTRAL STAFF SERVICES AND INVESTIGATIVE SUPPORT UNITS AS NEEDED. MEASURES OF COMMUNITY OPINION INDICATED THAT THE PUBLIC SERVED BY THE TEAM WAS GENERALLY PLEASED WITH ITS PERFORMANCE. OFFICERS ASSIGNED TO THE UNIT WERE CONSIDERED TO HAVE AN INCREASED MOTIVATION TOWARD THEIR JOBS. THE EVALUATION COULD NOT COMPARE THE ACTIVITY OF THE TEAM IN RELATION TO ENFORCEMENT IN THE AREA PRIOR TO THE TEAM OPERATION DUE TO A LACK OF USEFUL DEPARTMENTAL ACTIVITY DATA. THE INTER-ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICT WAS CONSIDERABLE IN THE TEAM'S RELATIONS WITH THE REST OF THE DEPARTMENT. THE EVALUATION GENERALLY ASSESSED THE PROGRAM AS A QUALIFIED SUCCESS AND RECOMMENDED CONTINUATION OF AN EXPERIMENTAL BASIS.