THE FOUR MANAGEMENT STYLES OUTLINED IN THIS ARTICLE WERE ORIGINALLY PRESENTED BY LIKERT. THESE FOUR ARE: 1) THE EXPLOITATIVE AUTHORITATIVE; 2) BENEVOLENT AUTHORITATIVE; 3) CONSULTATIVE; AND 4) PARTICIPATIVE GROUP. THE SYSTEMS ARE CHARACTERIZED BY DIFFERENCES IN THE FOLLOWING PROCESSES IMPORTANT TO ORGANIZATIONAL SUCCESS: LEADERSHIP, MOTIVATION, COMMUNICATION, DECISION-MAKING, INTERACTION-INFLUENCE, GOAL SETTING, AND CONTROL. THE COMMUNITY POLICE AGENCY ANALYZED IN THIS STUDY WAS THE MILPITAS (CA) POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS CONSIDERED TO BE A PROGRESSIVE, SERVICE-ORIENTED AGENCY. TO ANALYZE THE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM OF THIS DEPARTMENT, A LIKERT SURVEY THAT CHARACTERIZES THE FOUR MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS WAS ADMINISTERED TO ALL SWORN PERSONNEL AND TO TWO OF THE EIGHT CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES. THE RESULTS OF THIS SURVEY INDICATE THAT THE POLICE PERSONNEL IN GENERAL CONSIDERED THE MILPITAS DEPARTMENT TO BE IN THE THIRD MANAGEMENT SYSTEM- THE CONSULTATIVE SYSTEM. THE AUTHOR DISCUSSES WHICH OF THE FOUR MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS IS 'IDEAL' FOR POLICE. FINALLY, THE CONDITIONS NECESSARY FOR THE REALIZATION OF THE FOURTH MANAGEMENT STYLE ARE OUTLINED.