NCJ Number
67813
Date Published
1979
Length
5 pages
Annotation
A FORMER FBI DIRECTOR DISCUSSES HIS VIEWS ON MANAGING BOTH FEDERAL AND MUNICIPAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, FOCUSING ON PROBLEMS AND REFORM MEASURES.
Abstract
LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES SUCH AS THE FBI AND THE KANSAS CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT (MISSOURI) ARE RESISTANT TO CHANGE, AS THE MORE CONSERVATIVE PERSON IS DRAWN TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT FIELD. HOWEVER, PARTICIPATORY MANAGEMENT UNDER PROPER CONTROL CAN MAKE THE SYSTEM MORE RESPONSIVE. DISCIPLINE IN POLICE WORK HAS TO BE FAIR, FIRM, AND FINAL; IT HAS TO BE ESTABLISHED AND SHOULD BE EASILY DETERMINED IN ORDER TO HAVE CONTROL WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION. ANOTHER IMPORTANT FACTOR INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS OF CHANGE AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF WAYS WHEREBY CHANGE CAN BE BROUGH ABOUT IS RESEARCH AND PLANNING. DEALING WITH THE MEDIA IS ALWAYS AN ACUTE PROBLEM; THE PHILOSOPHY THAT EVERYTHING IN PUBLIC SERVICE SHOULD BE PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE IS DIFFICULT FOR A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY TO HANDLE. HOWEVER, THE MEDIA CAN BE BENEFICIAL TO A PUBLIC ORGANIZATION SO COOPERATION IS IMPORTANT BOTH WITH THE MEDIA AND OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. BECAUSE LARGE CITIES CONTRIBUTE TO SUBURBAN CRIME, THEY SHOULD ASSIST LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS. THE KANSAS CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT ESTABLISHED AN ACADEMY TO WHICH ANYONE IN THE METROPOLITAN AREA COULD SEND THEIR PEOPLE FOR TRAINING. ALSO, A METRO SQUAD COULD BE CALLED UPON FOR ASSISTANCE ANYWHERE IN EITHER KANSAS OR MISSOURI WHERE A MAJOR CRIME WAS COMMITTED, USING TEAMS OF OFFICERS FROM BOTH STATES TO AVOID JURISDICTIONAL PROBLEMS. ALTHOUGH OFFICERS ARE RELUCTANT TO REPORT WHAT IS OCCURRING IN THE DEPARTMENT, THEY SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO SPEAK FREELY ABOUT POLICE OPERATIONS. LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL SHOULD USE IDEAS FROM INDUSTRY AND BUSINESS THAT WILL ADAPT WELL TO LAW ENFORCEMENT. THE BEST TEACHER FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT EDUCATION IS A COMBINATION OF AN ACADEMIC TEACHER AND A PRACTITIONER. NO REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED.