IN 1977, A DECREASE IN MAJOR CRIMES WAS ACCOMPANIED BY AN INCREASE IN ARRESTS AS COMPARED WITH THE PRECEDING 12 MONTHS. A REDUCTION IN PROPERTY LOSSES IS A DEPARTMENT PRIORITY, WITH A 33.7 PERCENT RECOVERY RATE IN 1977. ASSAULTS ON POLICE OFFICERS TOTALED 439, AN INCREASE OF 12.9 PERCENT OVER 1976. THE REDUCTION IN MAJOR CRIME IS ATTRIBUTED TO THE DEPARTMENT'S PHILOSOPHY OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. AFTER AN ORGANIZATION CHART, THE WORK OF THE CRIMINAL INTELLIGENCE UNIT IS DESCRIBED; I.E., COLLECTING, EVALUATING, AND DISSEMINATING CRIMINAL INFORMATION. THE UNIFORM DISTRICTS, DETECTIVE DIVISION, AND TACTICAL DIVISION REPORT TO THE COLONEL OF OPERATIONS. THE YEAR'S ACTIVITIES OF EACH ARE SUMMARIZED; THE UNIFORM DISTRICTS HAVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT AS WELL AS CRIMINAL OFFENSES. THE TACTICAL DIVISION COVERS VICE CONTROL AND THE SELECTIVE ENFORCEMENT UNIT RESPONDS TO EMERGENCIES AND INCLUDES THE AIR SERVICE AND MARINE PATROL. BESIDES RESPONSIBILITY FOR HOMICIDE, ROBBERY, BURGLARY, AND LARCENY, THE DETECTIVE DIVISION ENCOMPASSES THE JUVENILE BUREAU. AMONG THE REGULAR ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES OF THE STAFF AND INSPECTIONS DIVISION IS THE CRIME PREVENTION BUREAU, INCLUDING SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS AND THE COMMUNITY-ORIENTED CRIME PREVENTION SECTION. ALSO IN THIS DIVISION, THE RESEARCH AND EVALUATION UNIT PROVIDES THE CAPABILITY FOR LONG-RANGE PLANNING IN THE DEPARTMENT. VARIOUS COMMUNITY SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE FALL UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION. CRIME LABORATORY AND RECORDS AND COMMUNICATIONS FUNCTIONS ARE GROUPED IN THE SERVICES DIVISION. STATISTICS FOR 1977 ARE TABULATED, INCLUDING CRIME DATA, TRAFFIC DATA, AND FISCAL DATA. PHOTOGRAPHS ILLUSTRATE THE REPORT. (MPL)