THREE PRINCIPAL THEMES ARE ADDRESSED: (1) ADMINISTRATORS MUST PRACTICE SOPHISTICATED MANAGERIAL POLICIES AND SKILLS, TO ACTIVELY PROMOTE PROFESSIONALISM AMONG POLICE OFFICERS, (2) THE QUALITY OF ANY POLICE AGENCY IS FUNDAMENTALLY DEPENDENT ON THE QUALITY OF ITS PATROL DIVISION, AND (3) POLICE ADMINISTRATION IS MORE OF A 'SCIENCE' THAN AN 'ART.' THE ADMINISTRATIVE METHOD INVOLVES A PROCEDURE FOR BASING RATIONAL DECISIONS ON COLLECTED AND INTERPRETED INFORMATION RATHER THAN ON INTUITIONS. THE BOOK DEALS WITH SPECIFIC KINDS OF ADMINISTRATIVE DECISIONS AFFECTING THE FUNDAMENTAL POLICY OF POLICE ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS AGENCY GOAL PRIORITIES, STAFF DEVELOPMENT, AND LONG-RANGE RESOURCE ALLOCATION. THE MODEL POLICE AGENCY EXAMINED IN THE BOOK IS HEADED BY A CHIEF EXECUTIVE WHOSE OFFICE INCLUDES STAFF FUNCTIONS SUCH AS INTERNAL INVESTIGATION, PERSONNEL SELECTION AND TRAINING, FISCAL CONTROL, RESEARCH AND PLANNING, PUBLIC INFORMATION, AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS. THE OPERATIONAL HEART OF THE MODEL IS REPRESENTED BY THE PATROL DIVISION TO WHICH OTHER DEPARTMENTAL DIVISIONS RELATE IN A SUPPORTIVE CAPACITY. THE MODEL IS ASSUMED TO HAVE THREE SPECIALIZED OPERATIONAL FUNCTIONS: CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION, TRAFFIC REGULATION, AND JUVENILE APPREHENSION ALONG WITH DELINQUENCY PREVENTION. THE THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS OF POLICE ADMINISTRATION ARE DESCRIBED, FOLLOWED BY A DISCUSSION OF TWO CONCEPTS ESSENTIAL TO POLICE ADMINISTRATION--POLICY AND PRODUCTIVITY. MANAGEMENT DECISIONS IN POLICE ADMINISTRATION SHOULD YIELD THE BEST POLICE SERVICE, QUALITATIVELY AND QUANTITATIVELY, AT THE LOWEST COST TO THE COMMUNITY. IN CONSIDERING SPECIFIC ISSUES OF POLICE ADMINISTRATION, THE BOOK CATEGORIZES THE COMPLEX RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACTIVITIES OF THE PATROL FUNCTION AND PROVIDES A BASIS FOR DEFINING THEIR PRIORITIES. THE PRINCIPLES TO BE FOLLOWED IN ASSIGNING PATROL UNITS FOR OPTIMUM COVERAGE ARE ESTABLISHED, AND GUIDELINES ARE DESCRIBED FOR SELECTING STAFF AND MONITORING PRODUCTIVITY. SPECIALIZED FUNCTIONS, CONTROL AND ACCOUNTABILITY, AND POLICE ADMINISTRATION IN TRANSITION ARE ALSO DISCUSSED. EACH CHAPTER IS INDIVIDUALLY REFERENCED, AND SEVERAL CHARTS ARE INCLUDED. A SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY AND AN INDEX ARE PROVIDED.