Perceptions of Organizational Performance in Suburban Police Department - A Critique of the Military Model

• NCJ Number: 106012
• Journal: Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 15 Issue: 2 Dated: (June 1987) Pages: 153-161
• Author(s): V Franz; D M Jones
• Date Published: 1987
• Length: 9 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The Public Service Improvement Inventory (PSII) was distributed to 557 city employees, 120 of whom were police officers, in Chicago in 1969.

Abstract

The PSII consists of items examining elements of the work environment and attitudes toward it. Overall, results provide support for criticisms of the military model of police departments. Compared to other city employees, police organizations had greater communication problems, more distrust (particularly of the higher echelons), and lower morale (associated with all these factors). In addition, there were lower levels of perceived organizational performance associated with all these factors. Results question the capacity of the quasi-military model of police organization to meet today's needs. 5 tables and 20 references.