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COPING WITH AUSTERITY - FINE TUNING AN ORGANIZATION - HOW IT IS BEING DONE BY ONE LARGE METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT

NCJ Number
66403
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 47 Issue: 4 Dated: (APRIL 1980) Pages: 33-36
Author(s)
B M JEFFERSON
Date Published
1980
Length
4 pages
Annotation
A CONFERENCE ON GOALS AND PRIORITIES HELPED THE METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D.C., TO COPE WITH PROBLEMS OF PRODUCTIVITY, LONG-RANGE PLANNING, EFFICIENCY, AND COST EFFECTIVENESS.
Abstract
THE DEPARTMENT SELECTED A CONSULTING FIRM THAT WOULD PROVIDE AN ESTIMATE FOR PRIOR PLANNING, PLAN THE 2 AND A HALF DAY CONFERENCE, AND DO A FOLLOWUP EVALUATION REPORT. PRIORITY GOALS WERE TO REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF CRIME INDEX OFFENSES ON A PRIORITY BASIS, TO INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE, AND TO DEVELOP EFFECTIVE WAYS TO ALLOCATE RESOURCES. AN EFFICIENT HIGH-QUALITY OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH PROGRAM, IMPROVED DEPARTMENT MANAGEMENT, AND MORE EFFECTIVE LABOR/MANAGEMENT RELATIONS WERE ALSO LISTED. ADDITIONAL PRIORITIES INCLUDED MORE EFFECTIVE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AND COMMUNITY/MEDIA RELATIONS PROGRAMS. THE FOLLOWUP CONFERENCE PROPOSAL ESTABLISHED AN EXECUTIVE STEERING COMMITTEE, TECHNICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT STAFF, AND WORKING COMMITTEES TO DEVELOP OBJECTIVES AND ACTION PLANS AND MONITOR AND CONDUCT IMPLEMENTATION. THE CONFERENCE, ACCORDING TO THE EVALUATION, RESULTED IN IMPROVED LABOR/MANAGEMENT RELATIONSHIPS AND A MORE COOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT STAFF. IN ADDITION, BETTER IDEAS AND OPERATIONAL OBJECTIVES WERE DEVELOPED; THESE SHOULD RESULT IN LOWER COSTS AND IMPROVED DEPARTMENTAL EFFICIENCY. POINTERS FOR OTHER POLICE AGENCIES PLANNING SIMILAR CONFERENCES ARE GIVEN. (AOP)