The dependent variable operationalizes rationalization in terms of officer education and training. Factors expected to explain variations among departments are the background and expectations of department chiefs, the manner in which chiefs are chosen, and departmental sizes and workloads. Two major patterns of explanation resulted after analyzing a number of independent variables: the educational achievements and administrative training of chiefs; and department size. These findings underline the key role played by chiefs who appear to appreciate both the benefits and the costs of rationalization. (Author abstract)