NCJ Number
124724
Date Published
1989
Length
117 pages
Annotation
The issue of consolidating airborne law enforcement operations in Orange County, Calif., was studied by a panel of 10 individuals using the nominal group technique.
Abstract
The panel selected six potential future events as having possible significant impact on the issue of consolidating airborne law enforcement operations: joint powers aircraft maintenance agreement, major flood or earthquake, oil shortage, reduction in police budgets, and inflation exceeding 20 percent. Seven trends were identified as having potential impact on consolidated operations: law enforcement acceptance of consolidation, available financing, need for aircraft, crime rate, government consolidation, and traffic congestion. The panel determined that the two primary factors in Orange County in the possible future consolidation of airborne law enforcement operations are acceptance by police department heads and economics. Interviews with Orange County police commanders revealed that some cooperative operations already occur, particularly with regard to communications, training, and reporting. Strategic and transition management issues in a consolidated airborne law enforcement unit are discussed. A list of panel participants and forms used in the analysis are appended. 23 references, 18 figures.