NCJ Number
66041
Date Published
1979
Length
11 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY EXAMINES THE PROBLEM OF DIVERGENCE BETWEEN POLICIES PREFERRED AT THE TOP OF THE POLICE HIERARCHY AND THE ACTUAL BEHAVIOR OF OFFICERS ON THE STREET AND DESCRIBES THE MAIN OBSTACLES TO EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT.
Abstract
THE ORGANIZATIONAL OBJECTIVES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT LEADERS, SUCH AS CITY MAYORS AND POLICE CHIEFS, ARE THOSE GOALS AND INSTRUMENTAL STANDARDS THAT THE POLICE CHIEF AND HIS AIDES FORMALLY ACCEPT, PUBLICLY ADVOCATE, AND TRULY WISH TO ACHIEVE. IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THESE GOALS POLICE EXECUTIVES MUST EXERCISE EFFECTIVE MANAGERIAL CONTROL OVER THEIR OFFICERS AT ALL SUBORDINATE LEVELS, INCLUDING VICE SQUADS, DETECTIVE UNITS, AND PATROL UNITS. POLICE ADMINISTRATORS WISH TO ACHIEVE SUCH RESULTS AS CONSTITUTIONAL INTERROGATIONS AND SEARCHES, BRUTALITY-FREE ENCOUNTERS BETWEEN PATROL OFFICERS AND CITIZENS, AND THE ELIMINATION OF ILLEGAL GAMBLING AND HEROIN DISTRIBUTION. POLICE ARE EXPECTED TO APPREHEND ALL LAWBREAKERS, WHILE PROTECTING THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF ALL CITIZENS SUSPECTED OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES. THESE GOALS ARE BASICALLY IN CONFLICT. IN ADDITION TO THESE BUILTIN PROBLEMS, QUANTIFIABLE INDEXES OF PERFORMANCE FOR POLICE OFFICERS OFTEN DETERMINE PROMOTION AND REWARD. AMONG THESE ARE ARREST QUOTAS, WHICH OFTEN CAUSE OFFICER MANIPULATION, RECYCLING OF OFFENDERS, EVEN PERJURY IN THE COURTS. DETECTIVES ARE EXPECTED TO PERFORM QUALITY ARRESTS (I.E., APPREHEND CRIMINALS ABOVE THE STREET LEVEL), AND THESE ARRESTS REQUIRE LENGTHY INVESTIGATIONS, THE USE OF INFORMANTS, AND OFTEN NEGOTIATING WITH MID-LEVEL DEALERS WHO PROVIDE INFORMATION IN EXCHANGE FOR IMMUNITY. ETHICAL DILEMMAS AND AMBIGUITIES INVOLVED IN SUCH RELATIONSHIPS CAN REDUCE POLICE INTEGRITY AND WIDEN THE DIVERGENCE BETWEEN SENIOR OFFICERS' GOALS AND FRONT-LINE OFFICERS' BEHAVIOR. UNSTRUCTURED POLICE DISCRETION AND LACK OF POLICE OFFICER GUIDELINES ARE CHIEF OBSTACLES TO ACHIEVING MANAGERIAL CONTROL. OTHER OBSTACLES ARE RECRUITMENT DILEMMAS (POLICE WORK ATTRACTS PEOPLE WHO DO NOT SHRINK FROM PERSONAL DANGER BUT, BY THE SAME TOKEN, ARE NOT AVERSE TO USING VIOLENCE WHEN THEY FEEL IT IS NEEDED), TRAINING (POLICE ACADEMIES EMPHASIZE DEPARTMENTAL VALUES, BUT OFTEN AVOID DISCUSSING APPLIED ETHICS, ESPECIALLY WITH REGARD TO CORRUPTION), AND THE REWARD AND PENALTY STRUCTURE. AN AREA OF UNCERTAINTY AND AMBIGUITY, IN WHICH GUIDELINES MAY NOT BE ENFORCED EVEN WHEN THEY EXIST, IS THE USE OF INFORMANTS AND THE TECHNIQUES BY WHICH NEEDED INTELLIGENCE IS ACQUIRED. INVESTIGATORS AND THEIR INFORMANTS TEND TO BE PROTECTED BY A MUTUAL PACT OF NON-ENFORCEMENT OF THE GUIDELINES. EXPLANATORY NOTES AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE APPENDED. (LGR)