NCJ Number
51819
Editor(s)
J F HEAPHY
Date Published
1978
Length
212 pages
Annotation
RESULTS OF AN ANNUAL QUESTIONNAIRE SURVEY OF NATIONAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS ON ADMINISTRATIVE AND OPERATIONAL PRACTICES IN 1977 IS PRESENTED FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATORS, PRACTITIONERS, AND RESEARCHERS.
Abstract
RESPONSES WERE COLLECTED FROM 49 DEPARTMENTS AND ARE ANALYZED UNDER THE CATEGORIES OF ADMINISTRATION (FINANCE AND BENEFITS) AND PERSONNEL (DISTRIBUTION, COMPOSITION, AND PROMOTION). RAW DATA, INCLUDING TALLY SHEETS AND SUMMARY DATA, ALSO ARE INCLUDED FOR RESEARCHERS OR OTHER PERSONS WISHING TO DO FURTHER ANALYSIS. THE DATA SHOW THAT THERE IS A PRONOUNCED TREND TOWARD LOWER PER CAPITA COSTS FOR POLICING IN SOUTHERN CITIES WITH SMALLER POPULATIONS, AND THE MEDIAN COST IN ALL CITIES IS $55.98. THERE IS AN AVERAGE OF 2.42 POLICE OFFICERS PER 1,000 POPULATION IN CITIES WITH 500,000 INHABITANTS AND OF 1.88 PER 1,000 FOR CITIES WITH 250,000 TO 500,000 INHABITANTS. MEDIAN SALARIES PAID TO POLICE CHIEFS RANGE FROM $28,000 TO $31,000 FOR ALL 49 DEPARTMENTS AND THE MEDIAN ALLOCATION OF OFFICERS TO PATROL DUTIES IS BETWEEN 54 AND 56 PERCENT. THERE ARE STRIKING DIFFERENCES AMONG DEPARTMENTS ON A LARGE NUMBER OF SURVEY ITEMS; THE NUMBERS OF COMPLAINTS RECEIVED PER 100 OFFICERS RANGED BETWEEN A LOW OF 1.3 TO A HIGH OF 122.2 COMPLAINTS. THE APPENDIXES CONTAIN THE SURVEY INSTRUMENT AND A LIST OF CITY AND GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS REPRESENTED IN THE REPORT.