HISTORICALLY, GERMAN POLICE FORCES HAVE BEEN PROVIDED BY STATES OR OTHER LARGER POLITICAL DIVISIONS RATHER THAN BY LOCAL OFFICIALS. AFTER WORLD WAR II, POLICE SERVICES WERE DEMANDED OF EACH TOWN, WHICH FOUND COMPLIANCE DIFFICULT AND UNFAMILIAR. BEGINNING IN THE 1950'S, WEST GERMAN POLICE FORCES WERE BECOMING CONSOLIDATED; THE FINAL PROCESS BEING COMPLETED IN 1975. EACH FEDERAL STATE IN THE WEST GERMAN REPUBLIC MANAGES ITS OWN FORCE, AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REQUIRES EACH FORCE TO FULFILL CERTAIN NATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES. IN EACH STATE, POLICE ARE DIVIDED INTO STATE, CRIMINAL, AND EMERGENCY POLICE; STATE POLICE PROVIDE GENERAL POLICE SERVICES, CRIMINAL POLICE PERFORM DETECTIVE WORK, AND EMERGENCY POLICE PROVIDE BACK-UP WORK AND SPECIALIZED TRAINING. ADVANTAGES TO CONSOLIDATE POLICE FORCES INCLUDE BETTER TRAINING FACILITIES AND STANDARDS; A LARGER TAX BASE FOR FUNDING; MORE EFFECTIVE LOCAL AND NATIONAL COORDINATION; LESS POLITICAL INFLUENCE; BETTER, MORE UNIFORM ENFORCEMENT; AND THE ABILITY TO BUY SOPHISTCATED, EXPENSIVE EQUIRPMENT. DISADVANTAGES INCLUDE A LACK OF LOCAL CONTROL NEEDS, DIMINSHING POLICE, ATTENTION TO MINOR CRIME, FEWER BENEFITS FOR MUNICIPAL POLICE, AND DECREASED FAMILIARITY BETWEEN LOCAL RESIDENTS AND STATE-ASSIGNED, GEOGRAPHICALLY MOBILE POLICE. SOME FOOTNOTES ARE PROVIDED. (PAP)