THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE PRESENT STUDY IS THREEFOLD (1) TO PROVIDE A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSISTANCE OFFICER (NAO) PROGRAM, (2) TO EVALUATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROGRAM IN GENERAL TERMS, AND (3) TO PROVIDE SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE ORGANIZATIONAL ADJUSTMENT AND DEVELOPMENT. THE MAJORITY OF OPINIONS FROM ALL THE PUBLICS SURVEYED AND INTERVIEWED GAVE THE NAO PROGRAM A MODERATELY HIGH TO HIGH RATING ON THE QUALITY OF JOB DONE. THIS WAS TRUE AMONG THE PEOPLE FOR WHOM THEY WORK, THE DAYTON CITIZEN, AND AMONG THE PEOPLE WITH WHOM THEY WORK, THE DAYTON POLICE PATROLMAN. A STRONG MAJORITY OF COMMUNITY BOARD MEMBERS FELT THAT NAO'S ADDED TO THE PERSONAL SECURITY AND PROPERTY SAFETY OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. BOTH THE PATROLMEN AND THE BOARDS STATED THAT IF THE NAO PROGRAM WERE DROPPED, THE PRESENT NAO DUTIES WOULD NOT BE TAKEN ON BY THE POLICE. IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A PROFILE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS MOST LIKELY TO BECOME N.A.O. OFFICERS, INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM THE CITY-WIDE SURVEY WAS COUPLED WITH A DEMOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF THE PRESENT N.A.O. OFFICERS. IN ADDITION, A QUESTIONNAIRE WAS DEVELOPED SO AS TO ALLOW N.A.O. PERSONNEL AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS WHAT THEY BELIEVED TO BE THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF THEIR OPERATION. THEY WERE ALSO ENCOURAGED TO INDENTIFY NEW DIRECTIONS FOR FUTURE GROWTH. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)