NCJ Number
139802
Date Published
1992
Length
51 pages
Annotation
The International City/Management Association conducted a survey in September 1990 to evaluate police department practices related to probationary periods and formal evaluations for new recruits, mandatory retirement, computer use, and the effect of budget cuts on department operations and services.
Abstract
The survey was mailed to all U.S. cities with populations of 10,000 or more. Of 2,769 cities surveyed, 46.1 percent responded. It was found that a police department's efficiency and effectiveness were greatly determined by the quality of its recruits. Virtually all responding local governments required a probationary period for newly sworn personnel. Most respondents reported a probationary period of 1 to 2 years for newly sworn police officers. Of local governments requiring a probationary period, 94 percent formally evaluated employees at the end. About 80 percent of respondents retained more than 85 percent of police officers at the end of the probationary period. Nearly 40 percent of responding local governments had a mandatory retirement age for police officers. More than 60 percent of respondents used computers for payroll, employee records, and dispatching. Job scheduling was computerized in 35.4 percent of the cities. In general, the percentage of computer use generally decreased as population size decreased. The most prevalent effect of budget cuts was the postponement of equipment purchases. The next most frequently reported effect involved personnel reductions (not hiring for vacant positions). The bulk of the report contains statistical survey data.