NCJ Number
59945
Journal
Society Volume: 16 Issue: 4 Dated: (MAY-JUNE 1979) Pages: 46-51
Date Published
1979
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THIS ARTICLE DOCUMENTS THE UTILIZATION OF SECRECY AS A MAJOR ORGANIZATIONAL STRATEGY ADOPTED BY A POLICE DEPARTMENT TO GAIN CONTROL OVER ANTICIPATED CHANGES IN THE ENVIRONMENT PRODUCED BY A POLITICAL EVENT.
Abstract
TO ASSESS THE RESPONSE OF AN ORGANIZATION TO KNOWN BUT TEMPORARY CHANGES IN THE ENVIRONMENT, A STUDY WAS MADE OF THE IMPACT OF THE 1976 REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION ON THE ORGANIZATION OF THE KANSAS CITY, MO., POLICE DEPARTMENT. DATA UTILIZED WERE REPORTS OF ON-SITE OBSERVERS DURING THE CONVENTION PERIOD; INTERVIEWS WITH STAFF OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER THE CONVENTION; WRITTEN POLICE RECORDS RELEVANT TO SECURITY; AND A CHRONOLOGY OF THE CONVENTION OBTAINED FROM POLICE LOGS. RESULTS SHOW THAT OFFICIALS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CLEARLY RECOGNIZED THAT A NATIONAL POLITICAL CONVENTION WOULD CHANGE THE NATURE AND INTENSITY OF UNCERTAINTY IN THEIR ENVIRONMENT. ORGANIZATION LEADERS, IN FACT, ADVERTISED THE DEGREE OF ENVIRONMENTAL UNCERTAINTY WHICH COULD EXIST DURING THE CONVENTION PERIOD IN ORDER TO GAIN SUPPORT FOR THEIR ACTIVITIES. POLICE SECRECY PLUS OTHER POLICE ACTIVITIES CREATED THE VERY TYPE OF OPPOSITION (DEMONSTRATION GROUPS) THAT COULD BE CONTROLLED BY THE PARAMILITARY METHODS WHICH THE POLICE WANTED TO USE. THE CHANGES IN THE NATURE AND UNCERTAINTY OF THE ENVIRONMENT POSED BY THE POLITICAL CONVENTION RESULTED IN THE RESTRUCTURING OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ALONG PARAMILITARY LINES WITH SECRECY BEING THE MAJOR ORGANIZATIONAL STRATEGY UTILIZED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO MONITOR, CONTROL, AND CONTAIN OPPOSITIONAL GROUP ACTIVITY. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS APPENDED. (MJW)