NCJ Number
51925
Date Published
1978
Length
174 pages
Annotation
THE PARTICIPATORY MANAGEMENT COMPONENT OF THE LAWRENCE, KANS., POLICE DEPARTMENT'S COMPREHENSIVE EFFORT TO IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF ITS SERVICES IS EVALUATED.
Abstract
ONE OF THE GOALS OF THE INTEGRATED CRIMINAL APPREHENSION PROGRAM (ICAP) IS TO RESTRUCTURE THE PLANNING AND DECISIONMAKING APPARATUS OF THE DEPARTMENT TO ENHANCE THE ROLE OF PERSONNEL. A TASK FORCE STAFFED WITH OFFICERS FROM ALL RANKS AND COMPONENTS OF THE DEPARTMENT WAS ESTABLISHED. OPERATING UNDER THE DIRECT SUPERVISION OF THE ASSISTANT CHIEF, THE TASK FORCE IDENTIFIES PROBLEMS, SEEKS SOLUTIONS, AND RECOMMENDS COURSES OF ACTION TO THE CHIEF, WHO RECEIVES AND REVIEWS THE TASK FORCE'S RECOMMENDATIONS AND MAKES FINAL DECISIONS ON IMPLEMENTING NEW PROGRAMS. THE TASK FORCE MET WEEKLY FROM DECEMBER 22, 1977, THROUGH JUNE 1, 1978, AND ALSO VISITED OTHER POLICE DEPARTMENTS TO STUDY THEIR ICAP'S. THE EVALUATION OF THE TASK FORCE, WHICH CONSTITUTES THE DETAILED PROBLEM ANALYSIS COMPONENT OF THE LAWRENCE ICAP, INCLUDES PROCESS AND PRODUCT ANALYSES AND IS BASED ON INTERVIEWS WITH TASK FORCE MEMBERS AND ON DATA INDICATIVE OF THE TASK FORCE'S IMPACT. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE OPERATION OF THE TASK FORCE DIFFERED FROM THAT ENVISIONED IN THE ICAP DESIGN. BECAUSE OF DELAYS IN THE STUDIES THAT WERE TO PROVIDE THE TASK FORCE WITH DATA FOR ITS PROBLEM ANALYSES (A CITIZEN SURVEY, A VICTIM/OFFENDER STUDY, AND AN ANALYSIS OF CALLS FOR SERVICE), TASK FORCE MEMBERS HAD TO RELY ON THEIR EXPERIENCE AND INTUITION IN IDENTIFYING PROBLEMS AND RECOMMENDING PROGRAMS. AT THE TIME OF THE EVALUATION, THE TASK FORCE HAD JUST BEGUN TO IMPLEMENT ITS NEW PROGRAMS (E.G., A TRAINING PROGRAM, DAILY ACTIVITY LOGS FOR PATROL OFFICERS, A NEW PATROL-DEPLOYMENT PLAN, NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR PRELIMINARY AND FOLLOWUP INVESTIGATIONS, A CRIME-PREVENTION PROGRAM, AND AN EFFORT TO IDENTIFY MULTIPLE OFFENDERS IN THE COMMUNITY). TASK FORCE MEMBERS REPORTED GREAT PRIDE IN THEIR MEMBERSHIP AND PARTICIPATION. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT ATTENTION BE DIRECTED TO MAINTAINING THE INVOLVEMENT OF ALL MEMBERS, AND TO INFORMING OTHER DEPARTMENTS PERSONNEL ABOUT THE TASK FORCE. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE ICAP DETAILED PROBLEM-ANALYSIS COMPONENT HAS BEEN MORE EFFECTIVE THAN EFFICIENT. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INCREASING THE EFFICIENCY OF THE TASK FORCE'S DECISIONMAKING PROCESS AND FOR OBJECTIVELY EVALUATING THE GROUP'S EFFECTIVENESS ARE OUTLINED. THE BULK OF THE REPORT CONSISTS OF SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION--DESCRIPTIONS OF ICAP'S VISITED BY TASK FORCE MEMBERS, SUMMARIES OF INTERVIEWS WITH TASK FORCE MEMBERS, AND INFORMATION ON PROGRAMS IMPLEMENTED BY THE TASK FORCE. SEE ALSO NCJ 51922-51924 AND 51926-51927. (LKM)