A 3-YEAR STUDY OF A SMALL POLICE DEPARTMENT'S EFFORTS TO INSTALL INDIVIDUALIZED MANAGEMENT CONCEPTS FREE OF POLITICAL AND OTHER OUTSIDE INFLUENCE IS PRESENTED IN THIS ARTICLE. A NEW CHIEF OF POLICE IN HOLLYWOOD PARK, TEXAS, SET OUT TO CHANGE HIS DEPARTMENT THROUGH ADOPTION OF A RANGE OF METHODS AND TECHNIQUES DRAWN FROM THE BUSINESS WORLD. INITIALLY A SYSTEM APPROACH WAS ADOPTED TO DETERMINE NEEDS, PRIORITIZE THEM, AND ADOPT EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS WITHIN A SHORT TIME FRAME. INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP INTERVIEWS WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTMENT WERE EMPLOYED AS WELL AS INTERVIEWS WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS. A SURVEY OF PAST CRIME PATTERNS AND COMMUNITY PROBLEMS ALSO WAS CONSTRUCTED, A GROUP OF OBJECTIVES SELECTED, AND GOALS SET. THE GOALS WERE THAT WITHIN 2 YEARS BURGLARY WOULD BE REDUCED BY 50 PERCENT AND AGAIN BY 50 PERCENT, COMMUNITY SUPPORT WOULD BE GAINED, AND A 25 PERCENT REDUCTION IN ACCIDENTS WOULD OCCUR. THE FIRST STEP WAS A TOTAL REORGANIZATION OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. OFFICERS WERE TRAINED IN PROACTIVE CRIME PREVENTION TECHNIQUES. AN EFFECTIVE CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED, AN UNIFORMED OFFICER WAS PLACED ON THE PREMISES OF EVERY ABSENT HOMEOWNER, AND OFFICERS WERE TOLD TO CONTACT RESIDENTS WHENEVER A DANGEROUS SITUATION WAS OBSERVED IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. AN ALL-OUT EFFORT WAS MADE TO SOLVE THE COMMUNITY'S TRAFFIC PROBLEM. RESULTS WERE GENERALLY FAVORABLE AND ALL FIRST-YEAR GOALS WERE ACHIEVED. FAILURE OF SECOND-YEAR GOALS LAY IN LACK OF POLITICAL SUPPORT, ALTHOUGH THIRD YEAR GOALS WERE MET. RESULTS SHOW THAT MANAGEMENT BY EXCEPTION IS A VALID CONCEPT AND BENEFITS MAY RESULT FOR MORALE, EFFICIENCY, PERSONNEL TRAINING, PERSONNEL RETENTION, AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND SUPPORT. (MJW)