NCJ Number
55212
Date Published
1978
Length
119 pages
Annotation
THE COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICER PROGRAM OF HOLLYWOOD, FLA., IS DESCRIBED AND ASSESSED. A REVIEW OF COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICER PROGRAMS IS PRESENTED.
Abstract
IN ORDER TO KEEP UP WITH THE INCREASING CRIME RATE, HOLLYWOOD, FLA., POLICE DEPARMENT INSTITUTED THE COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICER PROGRAM WHICH EMPLOYED CIVILIANS TO FIGHT CRIME. A LIST OF THE AUTHORIZED DUTIES OF THE COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICER IS PROVIDED. COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICERS MAY BE ASSIGNED TO THE FOLLOWING KINDS OF POLICE CALLS: (1) VANDALISM CALLS, (2) MISSING PERSON CALLS, (3) MUNICIPAL CODE VIOLATION CALLS, AND (4) EMERGENCY MESSAGE CALLS. THE ASSIGNMENT OF A COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICER TO VARIOUS TASKS FREES POLICE OFFICERS TO CONCENTRATE ON MORE URGENT TASKS. WHEN THE PROGRAM WAS INSTITUTED IN 1974, SIX OBJECTIVES WERE PUT FORTH. OBJECTIVE NUMBER ONE CALLED FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PROGRAM. THIS OBJECTIVE WAS MET, AND THE PROGRAM CONTINUES TO THRIVE. THE SECOND OBJECTIVE CALLED FOR THE SERVICE OFFICERS TO RELIEVE POLICE OFFICERS OF 5,000 MAN HOURS OF WORK EACH YEAR. IN 1977, THIS OBJECTIVE WAS MET WITH A TOTAL OF OVER 10,000 MAN HOURS PERFORMED BY THE SERVICE OFFICERS. OBJECTIVE NUMBER THREE, CALLING FOR 20 PERCENT OF THE COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICERS TO BE SELECTED AS POLICE OFFICERS WAS ALSO REALIZED. OF THE 46 INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SERVED AS SERVICE OFFICERS, 13 (28 PERCENT) HAVE BEEN HIRED BY THE HOLLYWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE FOURTH OBJECTIVE CALLED FOR THE HIRING OF AT LEAST 25 PERCENT MINORITY AND WOMEN SERVICE OFFICERS. TO DATE, 44 PERCENT OF THE SERVICE OFFICERS HIRED HAVE BEEN MINORITIES OR WOMEN. CLASSROOM TRAINING OF 160 HOURS WAS THE FIFTH OBJECTIVE, AND THIS WAS EASILY EXCEEDED WITH THE FIRST CLASS RECEIVING 200 HOURS OF TRAINING. FINALLY, OBJECTIVE SIX REQUIRED THAT OFFICERS LEAVING THE PROGRAM BE INTERVIEWED TO DETERMINE THEIR REASONS FOR LEAVING. THIS, TOO, HAS BEEN DONE. TABLES AND BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE PROVIDED. (MLC)