NCJ Number
49993
Journal
Police Studies Volume: 1 Issue: 2 Dated: (JUNE 1978) Pages: 39-44
Date Published
1978
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PRIVATE CORPORATE MANAGEMENT AND POLICE ADMINISTRATION ARE EXAMINED. THE IMPORTANCE OF EXAMINING TOTAL COMMUNITY NEEDS BEFORE ALLOCATING LIMITED POLICE RESOURCES IS EMPHASIZED.
Abstract
AFTER POINTING OUT THE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN PRIVATE ENTERPRISE AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, THE PROBLEMS PECULIAR TO PUBLIC ADMINISTRATORS ARE EXAMINED. FOR THE POLICE MANAGER, THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENT IN ANY PLAN IS THE COMMUNITY SERVED. UNTIL COMMUNITY EXPECTATIONS AND NEEDS ARE DEFINED, NO REALISTIC ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES CAN BE MADE. POLICE DEPARTMENTS WHICH DO NOT ASSESS THE TOTAL COMMUNITY OFTEN END UP REACTING TO CRISES OR BEING DOMINATED BY THE MOST VOCAL COMMUNITY GROUPS. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE GROWING USE OF COMPUTERS TO ANALYZE POLICE CALLS IS NOT AN EFFECTIVE TECHNIQUE BECAUSE THE BASIC NATURE OF THE CALLS AND THE BASIC NEEDS WHICH NEVER RESULT IN CALLS ARE IGNORED. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT POLICE ADMINISTRATORS SHOULD ADMIT THE FACT THAT RESOURCES WILL ALWAYS BE LIMITED AND TO DEVELOP A PLAN TO ALLOCATE THESE RESOURCES IN A MANNER WHICH WILL BEST SERVE THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS APPENDED. (GLR)