NCJ Number
79596
Journal
Tijdschrift voor de politie Volume: 40 Issue: 2 Dated: (1978) Pages: 73-75,77-80
Date Published
1978
Length
7 pages
Annotation
The role of the Police Service Commission of the Hague in providing a means for representative participation of officers in decisionmaking is explored.
Abstract
The commission has existed since 1974 to deal with police personnel issues and technical or economic aspects of police executive service. The commission consists of the police chief; his secretary; and seven commissioners, two from the police management union and the remainder from three other police unions. Various management levels of officers are represented; the average term on the commission is 6.5 years. Much of the commission's work is done in the representatives' free time. From January 1976 to February 1977, the service commission discussed 235 topics in a number of categories (management and policy, internal organization, personnel matters, work conditions and equipment, and functions of the commission itself). Both the commission leadership and commission members suggest discussion topics. Preparation for discussions takes place at the individual, leadership, and union level, if necessary, with special consultations on legal matters. Meetings are held about once a month. The effect of the commission on policymaking depends on its ability to reach agreement on issues. The results of discussions are presented as official communiques which are circulated among the police officers. Commission representatives must seek to maintain contact with the officers whom they represent, especially as the rank-and-file officers are rather passive toward commission activities. Although the activities of the service commission and the planning council are similar, the former has less official authority in decisions affecting working conditions than the latter and represents executive police officers rather than the officers in general, as the planning council does. It is concluded that the service commission does permit employees to present their views to decisionmakers despite passive attitudes of the rank-and-file officers toward representatives. Notes, tables, and a graph are supplied.