NCJ Number
53537
Date Published
1978
Length
30 pages
Annotation
THE LEGAL, ECONOMIC, ORGANIZATIONAL, AND PRACTICAL FEASIBILITY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT CONSOLIDATION IN GEARY COUNTY, KANS., IS DETERMINED, AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION ARE PRESENTED.
Abstract
A CONSULTANT'S ONSITE VISIT WAS MADE ON MAY 15-16, 1978, TO GAIN A FIRSTHAND UNDERSTANDING OF THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT FUNCTIONS AND SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE CITY AND COUNTY. DISCUSSIONS WERE HELD WITH THE MAYOR, CITY MANAGER, POLICE CHIEF/SHERIFF, AND LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES REGARDING THE PROPOSED CONSOLIDATION AND THE COLLECTION OF DATA TO SUPPORT THE INITIAL STUDY EFFORTS. A SUBSEQUENT 3-DAY SITE VISIT WAS MADE TO COLLECT FURTHER DATA AND REFINE PREVIOUSLY COLLECTED DATA. THE FOLLOWING FACTORS WERE EXAMINED AS HAVING A BEARING UPON THE FEASIBILITY AND POSSIBLE IMPLEMENTATION OF CONSOLIDATED POLICE SERVICES: CONCEPTUAL--POLICE CONSOLIDATION; LEGAL--CONSTITUTIONAL, STATUTORY, AND ORDINANCE CONSIDERATIONS; THE GENERAL NATURE OF THE AREA--ITS ECONOMY AND THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SERVICE POPULATION; AND THE ORGANIZATIONAL--RESOURCES, POLICIES, AND PROCEDURES OF THE EXISTING POLICE AND SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENTS. FROM AN ANALYSIS OF THE DATA GATHERED ON EACH OF THESE FACTORS, IT IS CONCLUDED THAT COUNTYWIDE ORGANIZATIONAL CONSOLIDATION IS BOTH FEASIBLE AND PRACTICAL. THE LEGISLATIVE INTENT EMBODIED IN THE APPLICABLE STATUTES REVIEWED AND ANALYZED IN THE STUDY SUPPORTS THE PROPOSED CONSOLIDATION. THE PRESENT FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT ARE SUFFICIENT TO SUPPORT A CONSOLIDATED DEPARTMENT WITH MINOR MODIFICATIONS AND ADDITIONS. SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS ARE OFFERED FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CONSOLIDATION, ASSUMING THAT THE REFERENDUM ON CONSOLIDATION RECEIVES VOTER APPROVAL. (RCB)