Police Personnel Evaluation: A Tool of Police Management
| Author | Colin Hayes |
| Published date | 01 July 1980 |
| Date | 01 July 1980 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/0032258X8005300306 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
COLIN
HAYES
Chief
of
Police. Parry Sound. Ontario
POLICE PERSONNEL
EVALUATION: ATOOL OF
POLICE
MANAGEMENT
INTRODUCTION
Police personnel administration is a management function
concerned with the human resources of a police organization. The
most valuable asset of a police force is its members, and for the
organization to function effectively, it must get a full return from its
personnel resources and ensure that members are performing at their
full potential, and positions of responsibility are filled by the most
competent members of its staff.
There have been several expressions of concern over the past few
years regarding the need for the development ofadequate evaluation
and counselling systems for police officers. The Task Force on
Policing in Ontario made seven recommendations pertinent to the
need for such a system.'
The American Bar Association in its study, "The Urban Police
Function" stated that: "Traditional criteria such as the number of
arrests that are made are inappropriate measures of the quality of
performance of individual officers'? This was further reinforced by
the National Advisory Commission on Criminal Justice Standards
and Goals who recommend that every police agency should
immediately begin a periodic evaluation of all personnel in terms of
their potential to fill positions of greater responsibility.'
This essay will deal with the philosophy, types of police
performance evaluation, the conduct of evaluation interviews, the
supervisor's role and take a look at the total
job
environment.
THE
PHILOSOPHY
It
is generally assumed that personnel evaluation procedures are
necessary to locate and develop personnel for upgrading and
promotion. This is an oversimplification of the matter. The
objectives of evaluation should include:
(a) improved availability for upgrading
(b) more contentment
(c) improved morale
Police Journal July 1980 266
To continue reading
Request your trial