THREE REASONS FOR THE DICHOTOMY BETWEEN CONCEPT AND PRACTICE WITH RESPECT TO THE POLICE ROLE AND PERFORMANCE ARE (1) PEOPLE'S PREJUDICE AND FEAR, (2) MISUNDERSTANDING AT THE ADMINISTRATIVE LEVEL, AND INADEQUATE ROLE PERCEPTION AND PROFESSIONALIZATION AND INSUFFICIENT ATTITUDIAL CHANGE ON THE PART OF POLICE. THE PUBLIC'S IMAGE OF THE INDIAN POLICE FORCE IS POOR. THE GAP BETWEEN PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS AND EXPECTATIONS AND POLICE PERFORMANCE MUST BE MINIMIZED TO IMPROVE THE IMAGE OF POLICE OFFICERS. POLITICIANS AND ADMINISTRATORS DO NOT HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF POLICE FUNCTIONS AND POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY. IN THE MANDATORY AREA OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, POLICE ARE ACCOUNTABLE ONLY TO THE LAW AND THE CONSTITUTION AND, THEREFORE, TO COURTS. IN ALL OTHER MATTERS OF POLICE WORK, POLICE ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE AND ELECTED GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. POLICE BEHAVIOR DOES NOT HAVE TO BE DIVORCED FROM SYMPATHETIC UNDERSTANDING AND COMMON POLITENESS. PROFESSIONALIZATION OF POLICE ORGANIZATIONS IS NEEDED TO ENSURE THAT POLICE OFFICERS HAVE PROPER ATTITUDES, SUITABLE APTITUDES, AND ADEQUATE TRAINING AND SKILLS, AND TO FACILITATE PUBLIC COOPERATION AND POLICE RESPONSE TIME. POLICE OFFICERS ALSO NEED TO BE AWARE OF SOCIAL CONTROL (ENFORCEMENT OF SOCIAL LEGISLATION) AND SOCIAL DEFENSE (THE CONTROL OF CRIME). FINALLY, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DIMENSION OF POLICE WORK SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED SO THAT POLICE CAN ENLIST PUBLIC COOPERATION IN CRIME PREVENTION AND LAW ENFORCEMENT. (DEP)