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PROFICIENCY BASED GRADED PATROLMAN SYSTEM FOR A SMALL DEPARTMENT

NCJ Number
65043
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 67 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1980) Pages: 37-40
Author(s)
B KISER; J M SCHWARTZ
Date Published
1980
Length
4 pages
Annotation
ISSUES ARE PRESENTED FOR POLICE PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATORS WITH REGARD TO A GRADED PATROLMAN SYSTEM BASED ON PROFICIENCY AS A WAY TO UPGRADE EQUITY AND EFFECTIVENESS AMONG PATROLMEN.
Abstract

POLICE PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATORS SHOULD ADDRESS UPGRADED EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS FOR POLICE, A GRADED PATROLMAN SYSTEM BASED ON SKILL AND PROFICIENCY, BETTER PAY, AND BETTER COMMUNICATION BETWEEN MANAGEMENT AND OFFICERS. MUCH POLICE ADMINISTRATION IS OUTMODED AND STUDIES ARE PRESENTLY BEING CONDUCTED ON WAYS TO IMPROVE POLICE COMPETENCE, TO OFFER MORE OPPORTUNITIES, TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO RECRUITING WOMEN AND MINORITIES, AND TO PROMOTE POLICE CLASSIFICATION AND PROFICIENCY-FOSTERING SYSTEMS. MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS CAUSED BY LACK OF FUNDING HURT OFFICERS AND MANAGEMENT ALIKE AND ARE BLAMED ON MANAGEMENT; NEW MANAGEMENT METHODS AND BETTER COMMUNICATION ARE NEEDED TO BRING MANAGEMENT AND THE RANK-AND-FILE TOGETHER. AS THE COMPLEXITY AND TECHNICAL SOPHISTICATION OF POLICE WORK HAS INCREASED, HIGHER EDUCATION HAS BECOME AN ISSUE. AA DEGREES SHOULD BE REQUIRED OF POLICE RECRUITS, AND A GRADED PATROLMAN SYSTEM BASED ON PROFICIENCY SHOULD BE INTRODUCED. THE GRADED PATROLMAN SYSTEM ESTABLISHES FOUR LEVELS OF NONSUPERVISORY PATROLMEN AND IS DESIGNED, IN PART, TO ENCOURAGE POLICE TO KEEP ABREAST OF CHANGES AND NEW TECHNIQUES. PROFICIENCY AREAS SHOULD INCLUDE TRAFFIC CONTROL, INVESTIGATION TECHNIQUES, AND OTHERS. PAY SHOULD BE UPGRADED TO ATTRACT AND HOLD MORE AND BETTER PERSONNEL; TOTAL BENEFITS SHOULD BE OFFERED, SUCH AS UNIFORM ALLOWANCES, HAZARDOUS DUTY PAY, LIFE INSURANCE, AND SPECIAL DISABILITY RETIREMENT. COSTS FOR CHANGING TO A GRADED PATROLMAN SYSTEM ARE NOT GREAT, BUT MANAGEMENT