NCJ Number
59255
Date Published
1979
Length
43 pages
Annotation
FOCUSING ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POLICE UNIONS AND CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEMS, THIS PAPER EXAMINES COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM.
Abstract
A STUDY BY THE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE REVEALED THAT ALTHOUGH A SUBSTANTIAL MINORITY OF POLICE UNIONS AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATORS FEEL THAT CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEMS INTERFERE WITH PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATION, MOST SUPPORT THE SYSTEM. UNION ATTEMPTS TO ALTER THE SYSTEM SHOULD REMAIN MINIMAL DUE TO PERCEIVED ADVANTAGES AND THE LACK OF ANY ALTERNATIVE TO THE CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM. CURRENT INCREASING DEMAND FOR PRODUCTIVE PUBLIC SERVICES POINTS OUT THE NEED TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF POLICE SERVICES. NUMEROUS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING HIRING AND PROMOTION PRACTICES AND DISCIPLINARY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ARE NOTED. SEVERAL REASONS FOR THE FAILURE OF CIVIL SERVICE CHANGES ARE OUTLINED, ALONG WITH A SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVE: UTILIZATION OF THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING PROCESS FOR MORE PRODUCTIVE METHODS OF HIRING, PROMOTING, AND DISCIPLINING POLICE OFFICERS. A SUCCESSFUL EXAMPLE OF A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT IN CORPUS CHRISTI, TEX., IS DISCUSSED. AMONG THE CIVIL SERVICE PROVISIONS NEGOTIATED INTO THIS CITY'S POLICE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT ARE PROMOTION AND DEMOTION OF ASSISTANT CHIEFS AND COMMANDERS, PROBATIONARY PERIODS FOR RECRUITS AND SUPERVISORS, SUSPENSION OF OFFICERS, REDUCTION IN THE POWER OF THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION IN DISCIPLINARY CASES, POWER OF ASSISTANT CHIEFS AND COMMANDERS TO RECOMMEND SUSPENSIONS, AND PROMOTIONS. ADDITIONAL ANALYSES OF THE CORPUS CHRISTI BARGAINING EXPERIENCE ARE EXAMINED. FOOTNOTES ACCOMPANY THE TEXT.