FOR STAFF WORK TO BE EFFECTIVE A SYSTEM OF CENTRAL INFORMATION OFFICERS LINKING THE FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS IS NECESSARY, I.E., A SYSTEM WHICH PROVIDES THOROUGH INFORMATION FOR COMMANDING OFFICERS' DECISIONS. SPECIFICALLY TRAINED INFORMATION OFFICERS HAVE BECOME NECESSARY, PARTICULARLY DURING SPECIAL OPERATIONS, BECAUSE OF GROWING OBSTACLES TO A SMOOTH INFORMATION FLOW--E.G., TIME PRESSURE, THE LENGTH OF INFORMATION PATHS, AND THE NUMBER OF PLACES WHICH MUST BE KEPT IN CONTACT. ACCORDING TO PRINCIPLES OF INFORMATION EXCHANGE, THE POLICE COMMANDERS SHOULD ONLY TAKE AN INTEREST IN INFORMATION WHICH THEY NEED FOR DECISIONS AND COMMANDS AND BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING INFORMATION PLANS TO FACILITATE RAPID INFORMATION TRANSFER IN A FORM ACCESSIBLE TO RECEIVERS. ALL INFORMATION OFFICES SHOULD INFORM THEIR SUPERIORS OF EVENTS PROMPTLY. INFORMATION SHOULD BE ORGANIZED IN A COMPREHENSIBLE, USEFUL MANNER. COMMUNICATIONS MAY BE OF RELEVANCE TO THE SPECIALTY OF A PARTICULAR UNIT, TO PERSONS OR AGENCIES OUTSIDE THE OPERATIONAL UNIT, OR TO THE UNIT STAFF ITSELF. ACTIVE INFORMATION SHOULD BE AVAILABLE ONLY TO COMMAND PERSONNEL AND DOES NOT HAVE THE FORCE OF ORDERS. TYPES OF INFORMATION ARE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE OPERATIONAL UNIT, PUBLIC INFORMATION, HIDDEN BUT NOT CONDIFENTIAL INFORMATION, INFORMATION BURIED IN CONFIDENTIAL REPORTS, AND TOP SECRET INFORMATION. PARTICULAR PROBLEMS ARE SORTING OUT AND ORGANIZING THE FLOOD OF INFORMATION DURING DISASTERS, COMMUNICATION DIFFICULTIES RESULTING FROM LACK OF INTEGRATION OF EMERGENCY UNITS, AND CONFUSION CREATED WHEN INFORMATION PATHS AND COMMAND PATHS ARE NOT SEPARATED. IN THE FUTURE, PLANNING, DECISIONS, AND CONTROL OF POLICE COMMAND STAFFS WILL BECOME PART OF A COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)