SEVERAL CONCERNS INTRINSIC TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE ROLE OF ASSURING CONTINUITY AND INTEGRITY OF THE ORGANIZATION OVER TIME, ARE CITED TO EXPLAIN AMBIVALENCE TOWARD PROFESSIONALISM. RELUCTANCE TO UTILIZE THE RHETORIC OF PROFESSIONALISM IS LARGELY BASED ON THE ADMINISTRATOR'S RECOGNITION THAT THE CREDIBILITY OF THE RHETORIC ULTIMATELY DEPENDS ON THE PRESENCE OF PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES. ACTIVITATING PROFESSIONALISM, RATHER THAN UTILIZING PROFESSIONALISM RHETORIC, EMERGES AS THE REAL ISSUE. SEVERAL FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH PROFESSIONAL ACTION CREATE CONCERN FOR POLICE ADMINISTRATORS. THESE INCLUDE AUTOMONY, PERFORMANCE ACCOUNTABILITY, ROLE TAKING BY THE INDIVIDUAL, ORGANIZATIONAL LOYALTY AND TRADITIONAL SECRECY OF POLICE OPERATIONS. IN SUMMARY, PROFESSIONALISM IS FEARED BY POLICE ADMINISTRATORS BECAUSE UTILIZING THE RHETORIC OF PROFESSIONALISM EVENTUALLY LEADS TO THE NECESSITY OF ACTING LIKE A PROFESSIONAL, WHICH RAISES PROBLEMS AND RISKS INTRINSIC TO ESTABLISHED OPERATIONS IN THE POLICE ORGANIZATION. FINALLY, IT IS ARGUED THAT THE PROFESSIONALISM ORIENTATION HAS MUCH TO OFFER TO THE ADMINISTRATOR IN SPITE OF RISKS. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)