Individual police violence is exerted by a policeman on the basis of an individual assessment and decision to use force. Organized violence occurs on the basis of assessments of situations and orders by superior officers to resort to violence. During the 1970's, political and administrative decisions were concerned with managing and controlling organized violence by limiting physical violence, tolerating abuse and injuries, retreat, and other tactics. Major disadvantages related to such control include tension between political pragmatism and basic legal principles, a lower violence threshold, and limited flexibility in enforcement. Other disadvantages include a lessening of the effectiveness of the threat concept, the dehumanization of police violence, a large increase in intelligence gathering and information activities, and the rise of militant rightist groups. Major developments which have contributed to the rise in individual police violence include the rejuvenation of the police force, police agency policies which have intensified officers' existing fears, the public's increasing challenge to police authority, the growing danger in police work, and a reduced level of informal surveillance of police. Some possible methods for controlling individual police violence include training and activities aimed at reducing officers' insecurity, increasing officers' practical experience, and providing training in supplementary social skills. Other possible methods include assigning officers to specific neighborhoods for longer periods of time and providing counseling to officers who are more often involved in violent incidents. Twenty-five references are included.