NCJ Number
48131
Date Published
1978
Length
24 pages
Annotation
THE EXPERIENCES OF THE WORCESTER (MASSACHUSETTS) POLICE DEPARTMENT IN USING CIVILIAN POLICE SERVICE AIDES (PSA'S) TO PERFORM CERTAIN POLICE DUTIES ARE EVALUATED FOR THE PROGRAM'S SECOND YEAR IN OPERATION.
Abstract
WORCESTER HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN IMPLEMENTING A PROGRAM OF HIRING CIVILIAN PARAPROFESSIONALS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHILE BOSTON HAS CONTINUALLY FAILED TO DO SO. SOME REASONS FOR THIS FACT ARE THAT WORCESTER LACKS BOSTON'S STRONG UNION OPPOSITION AND ALSO THAT IN WORCESTER, MANAGEMENT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE ATTITUDES AND PERCEPTIONS OF THE SWORN OFFICERS. THE REPORTED EVALUATION EFFORT WAS BEGUN IN MARCH 1975, DURING THE SECOND YEAR AFTER THE PROGRAM'S INCEPTION, AND CONTINUED FOR 6 MONTHS. THE LARGE NUMBER OF CALLS FOR SERVICE WHICH PATROL OFFICERS USUALLY RECEIVE IS TIME-CONSUMING AND FATIGUING, AND IT TAKES AWAY FROM THE TIME THE OFFICERS HAVE AVAILABLE FOR CRIME FIGHTING ACTIVITIES. IN RESPONSE TO THE INCREASED DEMANDS FOR SERVICE AND TO SEVERE BUDGETARY LIMITATIONS, THE CITY HIRED PSA'S, WHO ARE LESS EXPENSIVE THAN SWORN OFFICERS AND WHO CAN RESPOND TO THE NONCRIME-RELATED SERVICE CALLS. THE CITY OBTAINED THE SUPPORT OF RANK AND FILE POLICE OFFICERS FOR THE PROGRAM BY PRESENTING THE PSA'S AS A SUPPLEMENT TO OFFICERS, NOT AS REPLACEMENTS, AND AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OFFICERS TO BECOME MORE PROFESSIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT SPECIALISTS. PSA'S RECEIVED LESS INTENSIVE TRAINING THAN SWORN OFFICERS, PATROLLED IN THEIR OWN SPECIALLY MARKED VEHICLES, AND WERE UNIFORMED, BUT WERE UNARMED AND HAD NO POWER OF ARREST. GUIDELINES WERE GIVEN TO POLICE DISPATCHERS TO HELP THEM DETERMINE WHICH WAS THE PROPER UNIT (PSA OR POLICE OFFICER -- PO) TO HANDLE A PARTICULAR TYPE OF CALL. SURVEYS SHOWED THAT THE TYPES OF ACTIVITIES IN WHICH PSA'S ENGAGED MOST FREQUENTLY WERE CRIME-REPORT TAKING, FOLLOWED BY TRANSPORTATION, ASSISTING CITIZENS, AND OTHER REPORT TAKING. PERSONNEL WERE ALSO ASKED WHAT ACTIVITIES THEY THOUGHT WERE MOST APPROPRIATE FOR PSA'S, AND THE TWO GROUPS (PO'S AND PSA'S) SHOWED A HIGH DEGREE OF AGREEMENT. THE EVALUATION FOUND THAT THERE HAD BEEN NO INDICATION OF AN INCREASED SAFETY RISK TO SWORN OFFICERS, CIVILIAN AIDES, OR THE PUBLIC BECAUSE OF THE DEPLOYMENT OF PSA'S. OFFICER RESPONSE TO THE WORK OF THE PSA'S HAS BEEN VERY GOOD, AND A SURVEY SHOWED AN ALMOST UNANIMOUS FEELING THAT THEY WERE EFFECTIVE AND DOING A GOOD JOB. SURVEYS OF PSA CLIENTS SHOWED THAT THERE WAS NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN THE WAY RESPONDENTS FELT ABOUT PSA SERVICES VERSUS PO SERVICE. QUESTIONS DIRECTED AT PSA'S PERCEPTIONS OF THEIR OWN JOB SHOWED THEM TO BE ENTHUSIASTIC, AND MOST OF THEM WANTED TO GO ON TO BECOME SWORN POLICE OFFICERS. SURVEY DATA ARE PROVIDED, AND STUDY FINDINGS ARE SUMMARIZED. (VDA)