(Name)Case study 1 Malfunction Junction
Elements of police organization structure to reorganize and accommodate COPPS
The Junction City police force needs some changes in order to deal with the challenges which face the policing work in the changing circumstances. By using the seven elements choices could be made on the areas which are most likely to yield the desired results. The police department in Junction City needs to make changes in its running and also in incorporating COPPS for a successful transition.
Functional differentiation is one of the areas in which the Junction City department could make changes. There are different crimes which are happening. The department could benefit from differentiating the crimes so that efficiency increases. This will be crucial as the new functions for combating crime are outlined. Having clear sections of the police department handling different tasks will also reveal the ares of weaknesses in policing. Through occupational differentiation the department can also help establish the different ranks of the existing and new staff. This will establish the jurisdiction and allow each of the staff to understand their role and responsibilities. By dividing the tasks along different occupations the department will increase efficiency as well which will be important with the increasing population.
Spatial differentiation could also improve the efficiency of the department. This is because crime is increasing in some areas. There is a need to concentrate police presence through a precinct set up in down town to curb the crimes which are increasing in the area. These areas could be reinforced as the department grows and they can receive additional resources. Vertical differentiation will improve the department by having clear ranks. This is especially true as new staff members are added. Since the city does not have a big population, it does not need to have great height in its hierarchy. Employee autonomy can be increased through centralization. However, since the department is not very big centralization of decision making can be left to a small group. This will also assist the staff members who are accustomed to the traditional way the department was running. As the department grows and there are more occupational differentiation centralization can be reduced and more autonomy given to the various departments.
Formalization will be an important part of the department working. This is especially true with the introduction of COPPS. These will require formality to be used so that the law is adequately upheld and the local community policing and problem solving is well handled. Administrative intensity need not change much. This is because the lesser resources which are used for administration purposes the more these resources will be available for other sectors. Introducing less administration intensity will also draw attention from the administration and reduce red tape. This will facilitate COPPS and enable the police to be more responsible for their tasks.
Conclusion
Being the head of the police department in Junction City will require a careful integration of the existing department with the changes that will be effected by COPPS. The primary goal of the seven elements is to establish where changes are necessary and beneficial. By making changes to facilitate efficiency and yet uphold the rule of the law sufficiently, the department can begin to address the increasing levels of crime and improve its working resulting in a much better department in the future.
