When it comes to handing out orders, police officers have a very strict level of hierarchy that can be traced back to the classic military style. This model -- which is defined by central command, rules and regulations -- has very low tolerance for nonconformists. With this in mind, it is important for police agencies to concentrate on the lower levels -- where much of the work is done.
There are a number of organizational designs used in policing -- functional design, place design and time design. Police are constantly experimenting with different designs especially now that so many departments are turning their attention to community policing. This shift has been difficult for many officers who function in the military system and are not used to change.
When it comes to change, leadership is a key component. Leaders must have a vision of what they want to do and where they want their organization to go, and police officers who are able to implement what they’ve been picturing are seeing positive changes in their departments. Many departments have begun to incorporate new models such as Total Quality Management (TQM) as a way to concentrate on leadership development among high-ranking officers.
This course introduces various organizational structures found in almost all police agencies. It also goes into detail about the importance of police leadership and its role in the successful completion of the police mission. Students will also discuss the issues of police unions, professionalism and accreditation and their importance to police departments.
By the end of this course, students will be able to define the following concepts: POSDCORB, organizational structures, paramilitary structure, operations division, people-processing organizations, change, leadership, collective bargaining and professionalism.