nd functioning of the organization, whether that individual be designated commissioner or chief of police. In this research, therefore, the title chief of police is used to refer to the senior managerial and leadership position in an American police department. In Great Britain, the most senior police official for Metropolitan London is the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police (Bradley, 1986). The title of commissioner is also used to denote the senior police official in some jurisdictions outside London. In most jurisdictions outside London, however, the senior police official is the office of the chief constable (in some instances, head constable). The position of chief constable is also found in the Metropolitan Police organization of London. Because of the large size of Metropolitan London, the Metropolitan Police organization is divided into several districts, each of which is headed by a chief constable. Although subordinate to the Commissioner, these chief constables exercise the responsibility and authority of senior police officers within their districts. As this research is concerned with the individual holding the position within a police organization who is charged with the ultimate responsibility for the administration and functioning of the organization, it is immaterial whether that individual is designated as commissioner or chief constable. In this research, therefore, the title chief constable is used to refer to the senior managerial and leadership position in a British police department.
The basic qualifications for chief of police in the United States and chief constable in Great Britain are those associated with experience, training, and education (Leonard and More, 1987). These factors experience, training, and
education, however, tend to be viewed from different perspectives in the United States and Great Britain.
In the United States, experience with respect to appointment as a chie...