NCJ Number
66080
Journal
POLIZEI Volume: 38 Issue: 4 Dated: (APRIL 1977) Pages: 101-105
Date Published
1977
Length
5 pages
Annotation
A RECOMMENDED ECONOMICAL APPROACH TO IMPROVED POLICE EFFECTIVENESS THROUGH REORGANIZATION AND CONSOLIDATION OF EXISTING MANPOWER IS OUTLINED FOR THE WEST GERMAN STATE OF THE RHINELAND PALATINATE.
Abstract
THE CHANGES RECOMMENDED ARE ANALYZED IN TERMS OF GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR POLICE REFORM ISSUED BY THE MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR. GREATER COST EFFICIENCY AND BETTER UTILIZATION OF PERSONNEL ARE THE GOALS OF THE PROPOSED REORGANIZATION MEASURES, WHICH ARE BASED ON TASK ORIENTATION; FEWER, BUT BETTER-STAFFED, CENTERS; AND THE CONCEPT OF 'POLICE GEOGRAPHY,' WHICH USES DEMOGRAPHIC CRITERIA TO STRUCTURE POLICE ORGANIZATION AND SERVICES DELIVERY. INNOVATIVE POLICE REORGANIZATION EFFORTS ARE CITED FOR THE SAARLAND, BADDEN-WUERTTEMBERG, AND THE NETHERLANDS, AND THE PRESENT POLICE ORGANIZATION IN THE RHINELAND PALATINATE IS SUMMARIZED. THE PROPOSED RESTRUCTURING AIMS TO STRENGTHEN THE POLICE FORCE WITHOUT ENLARGING IT AND CALLS FOR CONSOLIDATION OF SECURITY POLICE PRECINCTS TO STAFFS OF AT LEAST 50 OFFICERS PERFORMING IN ROUND-THE-CLOCK SHIFTS AND COORDINATED BY RADIO DISPATCH. CRIMINAL POLICE FORCES OF ABOUT 40 OFFICERS WOULD WORK UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS, SERVING MORE THAN ONE PRECINCT. POLICE LIAISON OFFICERS ARE RECOMMENDED TO MAINTAIN CLOSE CONTACT WITH THE COMMUNITY. WHILE THE ABOVE LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS WOULD BE MANAGED INDEPENDENTLY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY, A SPECIAL POLICE UNIT WOULD REMAIN UNDER ITS JURISDICTION FOR A WIDE VARIETY OF FUNCTIONS, SUCH AS ISSUING PASSPORTS, REGISTERING CITIZENS AND FOREIGNERS, AND CONTROLLING GAMBLING AND WEAPONS. AT THE NEXT HIGHER LEVEL, THE PRECINCTS WOULD BE ADMINISTERED BY A POLICE DISTRICT AUTHORITY IN CHARGE OF MANAGEMENT, STAFFING, AND MAINTENANCE OF BOTH SECURITY AND CRIMINAL POLICE ACTIVITIES. IN THE RHINELAND PALATINATE THERE WOULD THUS BE 7 TO 10 SUCH POLICE DISTRICTS, EACH REPRESENTING AN AREA OF 400,000 INHABITANTS, EMPLOYING ABOUT 700 OFFICERS, AND ENCOMPASSING RURAL POLICE BEATS OF UP TO 45 KM. AT THE HIGHEST ADMINISTRATIVE LEVEL, THERE WOULD BE STATE POLICE BOARDS SUPERVISING FOUR OR FIVE POLICE DISTRICTS. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. --IN GERMAN. (MRK)