ST LOUIS (MO) - METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT - ANNUAL REPORT, 1976

• NCJ Number: 45640
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 22 pages
• Corporate Author: St Louis Metropolitan Police Dept
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Report (Annual/Periodic)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

FOLLOWING A DISCUSSION OF CAREER MOTIVATIONS AND TRAINING, TRAFFIC, CRIME, CLEARANCE, AND ADMINISTRATIVE DATA FOR 1976 FOR THE ST. LOUIS METROPOLITAN AREA ARE PRESENTED IN TABULAR FORM.

Abstract

SINCE WORLD WAR II, THE ST. LOUIS METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS TAKEN STEPS TO GREATLY MODERNIZE AND PROFESSIONALIZE ITSELF. ALTHOUGH MANY OF THESE STEPS HAVE INCREASED THE APPEAL OF A POLICE CAREER, DISSATISFACTION STILL OCCURS WITH SCHEDULING, LACK OF OPPORTUNITY, POLITICAL CONTROL OF THE DEPARTMENT, POOR PUBLIC SUPPORT, AND INADEQUATE SUPERVISION. UNFORTUNATELY MANY OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE UNAVOIDABLE BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF POLICE WORK. BECAUSE 90 PERCENT OF THE POLICE OFFICER'S WORK IS HANDLING NONCRIMINAL MATTERS, EDUCATION AND SPECIALIZED TRAINING ARE EMPHASIZED BY THE DEPARTMENT. THE EARLY STAGES OF THE OFFICERS TRAINING ARE AUTOMATIC, AND GENERALLY, 9 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IS REQUIRED TO OBTAIN WHAT THE DEPARTMENT FEELS IS THE NECESSARY BACKGROUND FOR CHOOSING A CAREER DIRECTION. A COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY/CITIZEN PUBLIC RELATIONS AND INFORMATION PROGRAM HAS BEEN UNDERTAKEN TO ENLIST CITIZEN SUPPORT OF POLICE OPERATIONS. IN THE PAST 20 YEARS, WAGES, HOURS, AND FRINGE BENEFITS HAVE BEEN IMPROVED. TRENDS SUGGEST THAT AREAS OF OFFICER JOB DISSATISFACTION WILL CONTINUE TO BE REMEDIED IN THE FUTURE. TABULAR DATA PRESENTED INCLUDE: INDEX OF CRIMES BY MONTHLY CLEARANCE RATE; INDEX OF CRIMES BY POLICE DISTRICT; PERSONS ARRESTED FOR PART 1 AND PART 2 OFFENSES BY AGE AND SEX; JUVENILE ARRESTS BY POLICE DISTRICT; PERSONS ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH PART 1 AND PART 2 OFFENSES BY RACE AND SEX; AUTO THEFTS AND RECOVERIES, AND VALUE OF PROPERTY STOLEN AND RECOVERED; COMPLAINTS AGAINST POLICE OFFICERS; TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT, ACCIDENTS, AND FATALITIES; NUMBER OF POLICEMEN, RADIO CALLS, AND FLEET MILEAGE; DISTRIBUTION OF PLANT AND EQUIPMENT; DISTRIBUTION OF COMMISSIONED PERSONNEL BY RANK; AND CIVILIAN PERSONNEL EMPLOYED AND SALARY RANGES. A BRIEF STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND A DEPARTMENTAL ORGANIZATIONAL CHART ARE ALSO INCLUDED. (JAP)