AS PART OF A 2-YEAR RESEARCH PROJECT ENTITLED 'CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEMS: THEIR IMPACT ON POLICE ADMINISTRATION,' THE PERSONNEL AND OPERATING PROGRAMS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS OF THE 42 CITIES STUDIED ARE DESCRIBED. DATA WERE OBTAINED THROUGH A STRUCTURED QUESTIONNAIRE DISTRIBUTED TO EACH OF THE 42 POLICE DEPARTMENTS. INFORMATION ON ORGANIZATION, STAFFING, AND COMPENSATION DESCRIBES CIVIL SERVICE COVERAGE, THE ROLES OF CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSIONS, STAFFING, TURNOVER, POSITION CLASSIFICATION PLANS, AND COMPENSATION PRACTICES. FURTHER INFORMATION TREATS RECRUITMENT PRACTICES, AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PROGRAMS, AND SELECTION REQUIREMENTS AND METHODS. DATA ARE INCLUDED REGARDING INSERVICE TRAINING, EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT POLICIES, AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT POLICIES. OTHER PERSONNEL PRACTICES ABOUT WHICH INFORMATION IS PROVIDED ARE PERFORMANCE APPRAISALS, PROMOTIONAL PRACTICES, AND DISCIPLINE AND APPEALS. THE APPENDIXES CONSIST OF A TABLE ON THE PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF SWORN PERSONNEL BY POLICE DEPARTMENT FUNCTIONS FOR 1977 ACCORDING TO CITY, A TABLE ON DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTIONS OF CIVILIAN PARAPROFESSIONALS BY SEX FOR 1977 BY CITY, AND A LIST OF THE 42 PARTICIPATING CITIES AND A DESCRIPTION OF THE SELECTION PROCESS. TABULAR AND GRAPHIC DATA ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)