NCJ Number
55250
Journal
DANSKPOLITI Issue: 12 Dated: (AUGUST 15, 1978) Pages: 256-259
Date Published
1978
Length
4 pages
Annotation
SPECIAL PROBLEMS AND ISSUES CONCERNING DANISH RURAL POLICE, MANY OF WHOM MAN ONE-PERSON DEPARTMENTS, ARE EXAMINED IN THIS PORTION OF A SEMINAR'S PROCEEDINGS. TOPICS INCLUDE WEEKEND AND NIGHT DUTY, PRESERVATION OF RURAL POLICE AND TRADITIONAL DISTRICTS, AND CHARACTERISTICS NEEDED FOR RURAL DUTY.
Abstract
FOUR GROUPS OF SEMINAR PARTICIPANTS DISCUSS FOUR ISSUES CONCERNING RURAL POLICE DISTRICTS: (1) SHOULD THE TRADITIONAL RURAL DISTRICTS BE RETAINED OR SHOULD THE LAND BE REDISTRICTED SO THAT THESE OUTLYING DISTRICTS ARE MERGED INTO LARGER DISTRICTS; IF SO, WHAT CRITERIA SHOULD BE USED TO DRAW UP THE NEW DISTRICTS? (2) SHOULD POLICE OFFICERS THEMSELVES PARTAKE IN POLITICAL DECISIONS CONCERNING THEIR WORK? (3) ARE THERE NEW OR SPECIAL AREAS OF INTEREST AND DUTIES THAT OFFICERS IN ONE-PERSON DISTRICTS SHOULD BE CONCERNED WITH? AND (4) CAN ADVANTAGES BE HAD FROM CREATING A RURAL CRIMINAL POLICE. OVERALL, THE GROUPS CONCURRED THAT THE RURAL POLICE DISTRICTS SHOULD BE RETAINED, WITH SOME POSSIBLE MODIFICATIONS. THESE MODIFICATIONS SHOULD BE MADE WITH REGARD TO THE DENSITY AND PERSONALITY OF DISTRICTS' POPULATIONS. RURAL POLICE HAVE A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR CONSTITUENTS THAT COULD BE LOST IF THESE DISTRICTS WERE MERGED WITH LARGER URBAN DISTRICTS, A MOVE THAT WOULD REDUCE THE ONE-ON-ONE CONTACT WITH POLICE. ARRANGEMENTS SHOULD BE MADE, HOWEVER, TO RELIEVE RURAL POLICE FROM NIGHTIME, WEEKEND, AND HOLIDAY DUTY. ONE REGION, HORSENS, HAS SCHEDULED ALTERNATE SHIFTS SO THAT THE EIGHT DISTRICT OFFICERS ALTERNATE WEEKEND DUTY. FURTHERMORE, PARTICIPANTS CONCLUDED THAT RURAL POLICE OFFICERS,L SHOULD NOT PATROL BUSY TRAFFIC WAYS OR WORK ODD SHIFTS. SINCE PUBLIC CONTACT AND VISIBILITY ARE IMPORTANT TO THEIR SUCCESSFUL FUNCTIONING, THEY ARE BEST EMPLOYED DURING NORMAL WORKING HOURS. IN ADDITION, A SMALL TEAM OF RURAL CRIMINAL POLICE IS RECOMMENDED. THE SEMINAR PARTICIPANTS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT RURAL POLICING IS A SPECIAL JOB FOR OFFICERS NOT INTERESTED IN QUICK PROMOTION OR FAST-PACED WORK. AN IDEAL CANDIDATE IS AN OFFICER AROUND THE AGES OF 37 OF 38 WITH A SERVICE TIME OF 12 TO 15 YEARS. --IN DANISH.