NCJ Number
58585
Date Published
Unknown
Length
21 pages
Annotation
DIFFICULTIES AND SUCCESSES ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONSOLIDATION OF POLICE DUTIES IN WEST GERMANY AND THE CONVERSION PROCESS FROM THE LOCAL CONSTABLE LEVEL TO A WELL-ORGANIZED STATE POLICE FORCE ARE NOTED.
Abstract
AFTER WORLD WAR II, DIFFICULTIES AROSE WITH THE GERMAN POLICE SYSTEM BECAUSE MANY SMALL TOWNS WITH NO PRIOR RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROVIDING A POLICE DEPARTMENT FOUND THAT IS WAS ADMINISTRATIVELY, ECONOMICALLY, AND POLITICALLY DIFFICULT TO ESTABLISH A POLICE DEPARTMENT AND FIND PERSONNEL WITH PRIOR POLICE EXPERIENCE. THE CONSOLIDATION OF POLICE FORCES BEGAN IN THE EARLY 1950'S AND CONTINUED GRADUALLY THROUGH 1975. THE LENGTH OF TIME REQUIRED TO ACCOMPLISH THE CONSOLIDATION WAS ATTRIBUTED TO A RELUCTANCE ON THE PART OF LARGE CITIES TO RELINQUISH LOCAL CONTROL. ONE OF THE EARLY ADVANTAGES OF A CENTRALIZED POLICE FORCE WAS THE ACHIEVEMENT OF PROFESSIONALIZATION THROUGH EXTENSIVE TRAINING. CONSOLIDATION ALSO RESULTED IN MORE EFFECTIVE POLICE ACTION AGAINST ORGANIZED AND FELONIOUS CRIMES AND TERRORIST ACTIVITIES. CITIES IN WEST GERMANY HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO PASS ORDINANCES PUNISHABLE BY FINES, BUT THEY ARE LIMITED BY FEDERAL LAW WITH REGARD TO VIOLATIONS OR OFFENSES THAT CARRY JAIL SENTENCES. ADVANTAGES OF CONSOLIDATION INCLUDE THE CREATION OF A LARGER TAX BASE, THE ABILITY TO RAISE QUALIFICATIONS IN POLICE TRAINING STANDARDS SINCE A LARGER GROUP OF RECRUITS ARE AVAILABLE, AND REMOVAL OF DIRECT POLITICAL INFLUENCE FROM THE POLICE. DISADVANTAGES ARE LOSS OF LOCAL CONTROL OVER LAW ENFORCEMENT, LESS FAMILIARITY BETWEEN OFFICERS AND RESIDENTS, AND THE POSSIBILITY THAT A CITY MIGHT LOSE GOOD OFFICERS THROUGH THAT OFFICER'S PROMOTION TO ANOTHER AREA. (DEP)