THE IMAGE ANALYZED IS THAT OF 'THE CHIEF OF POLICE (WHO AS) AN INDOLENT, UNARMED COMBINATION SOCIAL WORKERPHILOSOPHER, SELDOM ARRESTS ANYONE, AND, AS A RESULT, IS WELL-LIKED BY ALL LOCAL CITIZENS. A TOTAL OF 310 POLICEMEN IN 74 COMMUNITIES OF LESS THAN 50,000 POPULATION IN MISSOURI WERE INTERVIEWED. INTERVIEW QUESTIONS FOCUSED ON THE OFFICERS' PERCEPTIONS OF THEIR MOST CRITICAL COMMUNITY PROBLEMS, INCLUDING CITIZEN DEMANDS FOR ASSISTANCE; THE TASKS OR SERVICES PERFORMED IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY; AND THE SOURCE(S) OF CITIZEN OPPOSITION AND SUPPORT. POLICE INVOLVEMENT IN THE SMALLEST COMMUNITIES (UNDER 5000) CENTERED AROUND CONTROL OF TRAFFIC AND YOUNG PEOPLE. IN LARGER COMMUNITIES, THERE WAS MORE CONCERN WITH HANDLING FAMILY DISTURBANCES, WATCHING KNOWN CRIMINALS, AND WITH DIFFICULTIES IN COMMUNICATING WITH THE PUBLIC. NIGHTLY CHECKING OF BUSINESS DOORS TO SEE IF THEY ARE LOCKED ('RATTLING DOORKNOBS') WAS LISTED AS A POLICE SERVICE WHICH TOOK UP A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF TIME. SUPPORT FOR LOCAL ENFORCEMENT WAS SEEN AS COMING FROM LOCAL GROUPS SUCH AS FRATERNAL ORDERS, GOVERNMENT BODIES, AND BUSINESSMEN. THOSE PEOPLE WATCHED MOST CLOSELY ON PATROL (KNOWN OR EXOFFENDERS AND YOUNG PEOPLE) WERE ASSOCIATED WITH MAJOR OPPOSITION TO THE POLICE. MAJOR INTERVIEW RESPONSES ARE PRESENTED IN TABULAR FORM.