THE DELPHI PROCESS - INVOLVING POLLING EXPERTS SEVERAL TIMES, AND EACH TIME REPORTING TO THEM THE OPINIONS OF OTHERS POLLED - WAS USED WITH TWO PANELS OF EXPERTS. THESE INCLUDED POLICE OFFICERS IN ONE PANEL, AND A GROUP OF LAW ENFORCEMENT EDUCATORS, POLICE ADMINISTRATORS ATTORNEYS, AND SOCIAL ETHICISTS IN THE OTHER. PROFESSIONALIZATION AND UNIONIZATION ARE SAID TO EMERGE FROM THE DATA AS DOMINANT AND SIGNIGICANT TRENDS WHICH ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TO THE END OF THIS CENTURY. THE FORMER IS SAID TO BE A RESPONSE TO PUBLIC EXPECTATIONS FOR A BETTER-EDUCATED POLICE FORCE; THE LATTER A RESPONSE TO EFFICIENCY AND PRODUCTIVITY DEMANDS AND TO PERCEIVED DEFICIENCIES IN PUBLIC SUPPORT AND RECOGNITION. THE AUTHOR WARNS THAT IF THE LATTER TREND PERSISTS OR INTENSIFIES, IT WILL LIKELY CONTRIBUTE TO PROLIFERATION OF THE POLICE SUB-CULTURE AND A FURTHER BREACH IN THE MATRIX OF VALUES SHARED WITH THE LARGER SOCIETY. THE AUTHOR SUGGESTS THAT THE COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS APPROPRIATE TO A PROFESSIONAL POLICE FORCE MUST INCLUDE A WIDE RANGE OF SOCIAL COSTS AND BENEFITS WHICH RECOGNIZE THESE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF OVEREMPHASIS OF FISCAL AUSTERITY. HARMONY OF VALUES IS SEEN AS THE MOST EFFECTIVE GUARANTEE THAT THE POLICE WILL EXERCIZE THEIR POWERS IN WAY CONSONANT WITH THE EXPECTATIONS OF SOCIETY.