U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

PROFESSIONALIZATION AND UNIONISM IN LAW ENFORCEMENT (FROM COLLECTIVE BARGAINING IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR - SELECTED READINGS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, 1977 BY RICHARD M. AYRES AND THOMAS L. WHEELEN - SEE NCJ-42575)

NCJ Number
42580
Author(s)
ANON
Date Published
1977
Length
5 pages
Annotation
IN ORDER TO ALLEVIATE THE STRAIN OF PROFESSIONALIZATION ON EMPLOYER-EMPLOYEE RELATIONSHIPS, THIS ARTICLE SUGGESTS THAT EACH LOCAL GOVERNMENT ESTABLISH A COMMITTEE CHARGED WITH FACILITATING PROFESSIONALIZATION.
Abstract
IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT EACH LOCAL UNIT OF GOVERNMENT ESTABLISH A COMMITTEEE ON PROFESSIONAL SERVICES WHICH WILL DEAL WITH ISSUES RELATING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AS A PROFESSION AND OF PROFESSIONAL POLICE OFFICERS. SUCH ISSUES MIGHT INCLUDE, BUT NOT NECESSARILY BE LIMITED TO, EDUCATION, JOB ROTATION, TEAM POLICING, VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND EDUCATION, CAREER LADDERS, WORK RULES, LATERAL ENTRY, AND SECONDARY EMPLOYMENT. ONCE THE COMMITTEE HAS RECOMMEDNED A NEW PROGRAM FOR IMPROVING POLICE SERVICES, REPRESENTATIVES SHOULD TAKE THE RECOMMENDATIONS BACK TO THEIR RESPECTIVE PRINCIPALS FOR CONSIDERATION, THAT IS, THE UNION MEMBERSHIP, CITY EXECUTIVE, AND LEGISLATIVE OFFICIALS. SUCH A STEP WOULD TAKE SERIOUSLY THE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT UNDER WHICH BOTH POLICE UNION AND CITY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS OPERATE. ONCE APPROVAL BY THE PRINCIPALS IS ATTAINED, THE RECOMMENDATIONS SHOULD BE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED BY THE GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY HAVING THE POWER TO IMPLEMENT THEM. UPON APPROVAL OF ANY RECOMMENDATION, COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVES WILL HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATING THE ACTION TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT....RCB