TIME FOR REFORM - A CASE STUDY OF THE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE COMMISSIONER OF THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE BOSTON PARTOLMEN'S ASSOCIATION - TECHNICAL REPORT

• NCJ Number: 25606
• Author(s): R J ALBERT
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 124 pages
• Grant Number(s): GI38004
• Sponsoring Agency: National Science Foundation
• Corporate Author: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

REPORT ON THE RESPONSE OF THE PATROLMAN'S DEFACTO UNION TO A REFORM-MINDED COMMISSIONER.

Abstract

THIS CASE STUDY BRIEFLY EXAMINES THE EVOLUTION OF POLICE UNIONISM AND GIVES AN ACCOUNT OF THE EVENTS THAT PRECEDED COMMISSIONER DIGRAZIA'S APPOINTMENT AS BOSTON'S POLICE COMMISSIONER. A DETAILED ACCOUNT OF COMMISSIONER DIGRAZIA'S BACKGROUND, PHILOSOPHIES, SOURCES OF SUPPORT, AND PRIORITIES FOR REFORMING THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT IS PRESENTED. ALSO INCLUDED IS A HISTORICAL AND CONTEMPORARY INVESTIGATION OF DIGRAZIA'S MOST EFFECTIVE OPPOSITION, THE BOSTON POLICE PATROLMEN'S ASSOCIATION (BPPA). EACH OF DIGRAZIA'S MAJOR REFORMS ARE OUTLINED IN TERMS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION EFFECTS EACH HAS HAD ON EITHER THE STRUCTURE, PERSONNEL OR OPERATION OF THE DEPARTMENT. ALSO ASSESSED IS THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE COMMISSIONER WAS ABLE TO REALIZE HIS ORIGINAL REFORM GOALS. THE CONTROVERSIES BETWEEN DIGRAZIA AND THE BPPA ARE DIAGNOSED AS CONFLICTS INTRINSIC TO MOST POLICE UNION-MANAGEMENT RELATIONSHIPS.