PERRY, THE COUNTY SEAT OF HOUSTON COUNTY, IS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES SOUTH OF MACON. POLICE PROBLEMS HAVE MULTIPLIED IN HOUSTON COUNTY DURING THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. THIS STUDY WAS REQUESTED TO PROVIDE A STARTING POINT IN REORGANIZING AND/OR UPGRADING THE DEPARTMENT. THIS ANALYSIS WAS DIRECTED TO THOSE AREAS OF DEPARTMENTAL OPERATION WHERE ADOPTION OF NEW POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, OR MODIFICATION OF EXISTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, WOULD RESULT IN THE GREATEST OVERALL IMPROVEMENT IN EFFICIENCY. ANALYSES CONDUCTED IN THIS STUDY, TOGETHER WITH THE RESULTANT CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS, WERE BASED ON OBSERVATIONS OF OPERATING PROCEDURES, A REVIEW OF WORK DOCUMENTS AND REPORTS, EXAMINATION OF STATISTICAL DATA AND REPORTS, AND INTERVIEWS WITH DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL. AMONG THE AREAS EXAMINED WERE PERSONNEL, ORGANIZATION, MANPOWER USAGE, SUPERVISION AND CONTROL, RECORDS MANAGEMENT, COMMUNITY RELATIONS, TRAINING, PHYSICAL FACILITIES, AND EQUIPMENT. ACTUAL CONDITIONS RELATING TO EACH OF THESE AREAS ARE DESCRIBED, AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE IMPROVEMENT AND/OR REFORM OF EACH OF THESE AREAS ARE PRESENTED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)