A SURVEY OF THE NEEDS, PROBLEMS, PRIORITIES, AND VALUES OF SELECTED CHIEFS OF POLICE THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES IS REPORTED; RESULTS INDICATE THAT MANY CHIEFS ARE AWARE OF ORGANIZATIONAL AND OPERATIONAL SHORTCOMINGS OF THEIR DEPARTMENTS, RESPOND TO THE FINDINGS OF PUBLISHED RESEARCH, AND RECOGNIZE THAT IMPROVEMENTS MUST BE MADE FOR MORE EFFICIENT POLICING. THE HISTORICAL PROCESSES OF POLICE MANAGEMENT ARE SUMMARIZED, AND THE MEANING AND IMPORTANCE OF VALID AND RELIABLE POLICE PERFORMANCE DATA FOR POLICE MANAGEMENT ARE DISCUSSED. LEGAL ISSUES AFFECTING LAW ENFORCEMENT ARE CONSIDERED; IT IS CONCLUDED THAT LAW IS A SOCIAL FORCE AT BOTH THE NATIONAL AND LOCAL LEVEL, WHICH AFFECTS THE NATURE AND FUTURE OF POLICING. THE USE OF PREVENTIVE PATROL TO DETER CRIME IS CONSIDERED TO HAVE LITTLE EFFECT ON CITIZEN FEAR OR ARREST RATES. CONTINUATION OF POLICE PATROL SHOULD BE CONDUCTED ACCORDING TO DEFINED, SPECIFIC NEEDS AND PROBLEMS. A FEMALE OFFICER DISCUSSES THE FUTURE OF WOMEN IN POLICING, PREDICTING THAT AS MUCH AS 50 PERCENT OF THE POLICE FORCE COULD BE FEMALE IN THE FUTURE. POLICE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AND THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF POLICE UNIONS ARE EXAMINED. THE ROLES OF THE SHERIFF AND PRIVATE SECURITY ARE EXPLORED IN RELATION TO POLICE WORK. BETTER LICENSING, SELECTION, TRAINING, AND REGISTRATION ARE RECOMMENDED FOR PRIVATE SECURITY FORCES. THE CONCLUDING CHAPTER CONSIDERS THE FUTURE OF POLICE IMPROVEMENT. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT INNOVATIVE POLICE TACTICS ARE INEFFICIENT UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY SPECIFIC AND STATED OBJECTIVES. THE PAPERS ARE PRECEDED BY SUMMARIES AND INCLUDE LISTS OF REFERENCES. FOR SELECTED READINGS, SEE NCJ 51339-51348 (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)