U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

American Police Chiefs, Sheriffs and Command Officers Manual and Directory

NCJ Number
79707
Author(s)
G S Arenberg; J Hosford
Date Published
1981
Length
237 pages
Annotation
This manual offers chief law enforcement officers a national standard regarding training, procedures, and ethics. It also provides standard reporting and data collection forms and a resource for locating assistance and equipment.
Abstract
A police code of ethics is presented, as is a discussion of the leadership concept in terms of the characteristics, principles, and responsibilities of leadership and how these traits manifest themselves in individuals. The manual provides advice, in outline form, on how to handle a variety of situations and procedures. These 'how to's' cover public relations policies, human relations skills, patrol techniques, the mechanics of arrest, police duties at a crime scene, and the scope of a general criminal investigation. Specific consideration is given to burglary investigation procedures, the collection and preservation of evidence, and the techniques of interrogation and interview. Additional areas covered are police handling of auto theft and narcotics investigations and response to disturbance and prowler calls. Approaches are suggested for handling disturbed persons and for investigating and reporting accidents. A theoretical discussion of juvenile delinquency concerns definition, scope, and causes, as well as delinquent classification and personality development considerations. Laws and procedures governing treatment of juveniles in the justice system are reviewed, and approaches for interviewing juvenile delinquents are suggested. Guidelines are delineated for police report writing and officer courtroom demeanor and testimony. The manual also describes techniques for setting up a road block, conducting a raid, and directing traffic, as well as suggested procedures for controlling civil disturbances and riots. Extensive samples of reports and forms for law enforcement agencies are given. Police products are listed in an alphabetical index arranged by product type that also contains the addresses of major manufacturers. Extensive photographs, charts, and tables are provided throughout. A short glossary of legal terms and guidelines on the use of deadly force are included.