CONTAINED IN THE ARTICLE ARE IMPRESSIONS DERIVED FROM STUDYING POLICE WORK IN NEW YORK CITY. DISCUSSED ARE THE PARAMILITARY STYLE OF AGENCY STRUCTURE, DEMANDS PLACED ON LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, CHANGES IN THE STRUCTURE, AND PARTICIPATIVE MANAGEMENT. THE AUTHORS CONCLUDE THAT 'A RATIONAL TRANSITION TO BECOMING A FULL SERVICE AGENCY FUNCTIONING IN COOPERATION WITH ITS COMMUNITY CANNOT OCCUR WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT MODIFICATIONS IN THE INTERNAL STRUCTURE OF THE ORGANIZATION. THE ELIMINATION OF RANKS, THE ACTUAL DECENTRALIZATION OF AUTHORITY, AND A REORIENTATION OF THE POLICE IMAGE TO ONE OF SOCIAL SERVICE OFFICER ARE ALL PREREQUISITES TO SIGNIFICANT ALTERATION OF A STYLE AND VALUE SYSTEM OF ANY POLICE AGENCY'. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)