'THIS OFFICE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT STUDY SHOWS THAT LOCAL POLICE SERVICES IN THE 57 COUNTIES OUTSIDE NEW YORK CITY ARE CURRENTLY FRAGMENTED AMONG 576 SEPARATE COUNTY, CITY, TOWN AND VILLAGE POLICE AGENCIES. THEREFORE, CONSOLIDATION OF LOCAL POLICE SERVICES IN NEW YORK STATE AT THE COUNTY LEVEL, PARTICULARLY IN METROPOLITAN AREAS IS RECOMMENDED. AT THE VERY LEAST, COUNTIES SHOULD ESTABLISH A DETECTIVE BUREAU, A POLICE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM, A POLICE TRAINING FACILITY, AND A MUTUAL AID PLAN TO MOBILIZE NEIGHBORING FORCES IN A MAJOR EMERGENCY. LARGER COUNTIES SHOULD ALSO PROVIDE A POLICE LABORATORY AND CENTRALIZED RECORDS, AS WELL AS POLICE PERSONNEL SPECIALIZED IN SUCH MATTERS AS TRAFFIC SAFETY AND CONTROL, COMMUNITY RELATIONS, AND TREATMENT OF JUVENILE DELINQUENTS AND DRUG OFFENDERS.' (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)