COMPARISON OF QUALIFICATIONS: AMERICAN CHIEF OF POLICE AND BRITISH SENIOR POLICE ADMINISTRATOR
A. Purpose of research. B. Focus of research.
A. Experience. B. Training. C. Education.
III. Personal traits and qualities.
A. Qualities. B. Style. C. Changing environment. D. Successful application.
VI. Public administration. A. Applicability to chief of police/senior police administrator position. B. Effectiveness.
A. Extent. B. Responsibilities of chiefs of police/senior police administrators.
VIII. Civilian review and accountability.
COMPARISON OF QUALIFICATIONS: AMERICAN CHIEF OF POLICE AND BRITISH SENIOR POLICE ADMINISTRATORThis research compares the qualifications required for appointment as a senior police administrator in the United States with those for a similar appointment in Great Britain. Qualifications are considered in the context of basic criteria, personal traits and qualities, leadership and management abilities, merit and political imperatives, public administration, police corruption, and civilian review and accountability. Initially, however, it is necessary to define the term senior police administrator.
Senior Police Administrator: Defining the Term
In most American jurisdictions, the senior police administrator is the chief of police (Wilson and McLaren, 1987). Some very large urban jurisdictions, as well as some smaller jurisdictions with a council manager form of government, however, have a position of police commissioner (at times called a commissioner of public safety, or a fire and police commissioner). In such jurisdictions, there is typically a chief of police who is subordinate to the commissioner. This research is concerned with the individual holding the position within a police organization who is charged with the ultimate responsibility for the administration a...