NCJ Number
192493
Journal
Police Quarterly Volume: 4 Issue: 4 Dated: December 2001 Pages: 469-483
Date Published
December 2001
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This study seeks to identify desirable and undesirable performance indicators and leadership styles of police chiefs.
Abstract
Two hundred five municipal managers in Pennsylvania responded to a survey designed to capture the managers' assessment of the performance and leadership attributes of the police chief working under their direct supervision. An ancillary goal was to be able to predict both desirable and undesirable performance based on a number of independent variables. The performance traits and leadership qualities were organized into six subsets, including sad, upset, calm, sharing, Boy Scout, and James Bond. The survey found significant differences between chiefs' education level, whether they were promoted from within or hired from the outside, if they had graduated from the FBI National Academy, and if the police officers were organized as a union. The study suggests using in a number of States performance indicators such as those used in this study. The expansion will add to the reliability of the instrument developed in the Pennsylvania research. In addition, the study claims that more research on the municipal managers' characteristics--for example, education level, years in their position, and qualifications necessary to adequately rate the police chief--would be helpful. Tables, references