NCJ Number
11286
Date Published
1973
Length
133 pages
Annotation
CITIZEN EVALUATION OF POLICE PERFORMANCE, AND COST EFFECTIVENESS OF SMALL, LOCALLY CONTROLLED POLICE FORCES AS COMPARED TO LARGE, CENTRALIZED POLICE DEPARTMENTS.
Abstract
THE LOCATION OF THE STUDY IS THE GREATER GRAND RAPIDS AREA OF KENT COUNTY MICHIGAN. IT INCLUDES THE INCORPORATED CITIES OF EAST GRAND RAPIDS, KENTWOOD AND WALKER. EFFICIENCY AND ECONOMY WERE THE PRIME CONSIDERATIONS OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE. INITIAL CHAPTERS OF THIS REPORT PRESENT BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON CITIES STUDIED AND DISCUSS METHODOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS. THE DATA INDICATE THAT RESIDENTS OF SMALL COMMUNITIES RATE THE FUNCTIONING OF THEIR LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS MORE FAVORABLY THAN RESPONDENTS IN GRAND RAPIDS, A LARGER CITY. CITIZEN EVALUATIONS OF POLICE PERFORMANCE WERE GENERALLY UNRELATED TO DIRECT CONTACT OF THE RESPONDENT WITH THE POLICE, OR TO THE RESPONDENT'S SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS. IT WAS ALSO NOTED THAT THE RESIDENTS OF SMALLER CITIES SERVED BY SMALL POLICE FORCES RECEIVED BETTER QUALITY POLICE PROTECTION AT A LOWER COST THAN RESIDENTS OF GRAND RAPIDS. THE AUTHOR STATES THAT THESE AND SIMILAR OBSERVATIONS HAVE RESULTED IN A REVERSE IN THE TREND TOWARD CENTRALIZATION. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE STUDIES AND IMPROVED EFFECTIVENESS OF THE MICHIGAN POLICE DEPARTMENT ARE PROVIDED. ALSO INCLUDED IS A 13 PAGE BIBLIOGRAPHY.