IT BEGINS WITH AN EXAMINATION OF FOUR AMERICAN INSTITUTIONS, THE POLICE FOUNDATION, THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE (IACP), POLICE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, AND THE SCHOOL OF POLICE ADMINISTRATION (SPA), LOUISVILLE, KY., AND CONSIDERS THEIR IMPLICATIONS FOR THE AUSTRALIAN POLICE COMMUNITY. THE DISCUSSION THEN CENTERS ON POLICE-LABOR RELATIONS, POLICE HEALTH MAINTENANCE, AND THE POLICE OCCUPATION. CREATED IN THE 1970'S, THE POLICE FOUNDATION, A NEW APPROACH IN ASSISTANCE TO POLICE, AIMS TO IMPROVE POLICING BY MEANS OF TRAINING, PROGRAMS, AND RESEARCH AND BY SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PARTICULAR STYLE OF POLICE PROFESSIONALISM. THE FOUNDATION RESPONDS TO ICAP'S FAILURE TO PROMOTE THROUGH INFLUENCE A MORE RATIONAL POLICE STRUCTURE IN THE U.S. THE IACP HAS BEEN UNABLE TO ACHIEVE EVEN THE PROFESSIONALISM REQUIRED OF ITS MEMBERS BY ITS OWN CONSTITUTION. HOWEVER, DESPITE ITS PROBLEMS, THE IACP PROVIDES ADVISORY HELP, VARIOUS SERVICES, PROJECTS, TRAINING, NUMEROUS PUBLICATIONS, AND AN ANNUAL CONFERENCE, AND IT IS A MAJOR POWER WITHIN THE POLICE COMMUNITY. THE WIDE USE OF POLICE BOARDS OR COMMISSIONS AS EITHER ADMINISTRATIVE OR CONTROL DEVICES IN THE U.S. IS CONTRASTED WITH THHE ABSENCE OF SUCH ORGANIZATIONS IN AUSTRALIA. DISCUSSION CENTERS ON THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF POLICE COMMISSIONS AND BOARDS, THEIR FUNCTIONS AND EFFECTIVENESS, AND THEIR EXPERIENCES IN THE CITIES OF DETROIT, MILWAUKEE, CHICAGO, ST. LOUIS, LOS ANGELES, AND SAN FRANCISCO. AUSTRALIA'S NEED TO DEVELOP POLICE EDUCATION PROGRAMS IS DISCUSSED IN RELATION TO THE SPA, AND UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE PROGRAMS OFFERED AT SPA ARE DETAILED. THE PROCESSES INVOLVED IN NEGOTIATING POLICE SALARIES, PARTICULARLY THE HEAVY USE OF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING IN SEVERAL AMERICAN CITIES, ARE CONTRASTED WITH THOSE USED IN AUSTRALIA (MOSTLY GOVERNMENT ARBITRATION). A SURVEY OF POLICE HEALTH MAINTENANCE REVIEWS PUBLISHED LITERATURE ON THE TOPIC AND DISCUSSES THE PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS INVOLVED: JOB STRESS, WORKPLACE CONDITIONS, AND MEDICAL SERVICES. THE FINAL ARTICLE ATTEMPTS TO DEFINE THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POLICE OCCUPATION, ANALYZE EXISTING ORGANIZATIONAL AND STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS, AND PREDICT FUTURE CHALLENGES TO THE PROFESSION. THE BOOK CONTAINS 2 TABLES, 10 FIGURES, FOOTNOTES, REFERENCES, NAME AND SUBJECT INDEXES, AND 10 APPENDIXES OF RELATED MATERIAL. (PRG)