THE TERMINOLOGY OF TRANSACTIONAL ANALYSIS (TA) IS DESCRIBED AND POLICING STYLES ARE DISCUSSED USING JAMES Q. WILSON'S LANDMARK RESEARCH. WILSON FOCUSED ON THREE STYLES OF POLICING: THE LEGALISTIC WHICH PRODUCES OFFICERS WHO ARE EXPECTED TO ENFORCE BY THE BOOK; THE WATCHMAN IN WHICH POLICING IS SEEN AS PATERNALISTIC; AND THE SERVICE WHICH DEMONSTRATES A FLEXIBLE, PRODUCTIVE BEHAVIOR THAT MEETS CITIZENS' NEEDS. THE ARTICLE ENDORSES THE SERVICE STYLE OF POLICING STATING THAT THE PROPER POLICE ROLE IS TO SERVE AS PART, OR MEMBER, OF A COMMUNITY TEAM. BY LEARNING THE PRINCIPLES OF TA, POLICE OFFICERS COULD GAIN A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF THEMSELVES, AND COULD COMMUNICATE MORE EFFECTIVELY WITH OTHERS. TA WOULD ALSO IMPROVE OFFICER MORALE, OFFICER-CITIZEN INTERACTIONS, AND LEAD TO GREATER UNDERSTANDING AND COOPERATION WITHIN THE POLICE ORGANIZATION. FOOTNOTES ARE GIVEN. (MJW)