Administrator Challenges within the Police Department

Administrator Challenges within the Police Department

University of Phoenix

CJA/454

Administrator Challenges

The job requirements of a criminal justice administer in the United States can be extremely demanding. The three foremost areas of criminal justice include the police, courts, and corrections. As an administrator overseeing the police department would be indeed the hardest of the three. Within a police department the chief of police would be the top administrator and in command of administrating the departments policies to officers, detectives, and supporting staff. This paper will discuss the roles of a chief of police and the negative and positive aspects he or she may endure.

Administrator of a Police Department

As an administrator of a police department, the requirements are more than just ensuring the officers follow the policies of that department. It requires the individual to be knowledgeable of federal and state laws, budgets, and public relations and must be able to communicate in a competent fashion in a written and oral manner and be a critical thinker. Other challenges a chief of police can face are ensuring the officers are well trained and have the proper equipment to do his or her job while out on patrol. A chief of police must be an ethical individual and an unbiased individual. Not fulfilling these requirements could result in a crisis situation within the department. The police department is not the only place a crisis can occur when the chief of police is not fulfilling his or her job as described in the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The public tends to demand the chief of police to provide professional and cost-effective services while keeping criminal activity down, and stopping corruption and illegal use of force from his or her officers (Peak, 2010).

One incident that had occurred was in 2011, when Chief of Police Daniel Saylor of Windermere, Florida, apparently had interfered with an investigation into the suspected rape of a minor subsequently to protect a friend. The chief of police was arrested on felony charges of official misconduct and unlawful compensation for official behavior. His friend was charged with sexual battery of a minor under 12, which is a capital offense. He was also charged with lewd actions upon a minor, which is a third-degree felony. An investigation was conducted to determine that chief of police Saylor had terminated the investigation of his friend who was being charged with sexual battery of a child and the case was being conducted by his department (Couwels, 2011).

Negative and Positive Aspects of the Job

The job duration of chief of police has been short venue;a study conducted in the mid-1980s determines the average duration to be five and half years. This short duration has numerous negative effects for him or her and his or her department. It stops long-range development for the department, results in numerous new polices and administrative techniques. It also prohibits the advancement of the chief’s political growth and local influence (Peak, 2010). This is just one of the negative aspects of being a chief of police for any department.

A survey was conducted of 50 chief of police asking him or her to please explain what other negative aspects of the job were. Most commented on the short tenure of the position but the second largest complaint was the toll it took on his or her personal life. The overwhelming stress and continual responsibility of the job were some of the comments made about the position (Benson, 2004).

From the survey there were also some positive comments made about the position, those surveyed stated that being able to make advancements within the department and have a positive effect on the officers and the communities he or she protected was rewarding. This position also taught some chief of police administrator’s good leadership work habits, to never compromise your integrity, and always to take care of your personal self (Benson, 2004).

Career in Criminal Justice

In reference to this course in assisting me to prepare for a career in the criminal justice field as an administrator, I believe this course has encouraged me to further my advancement in criminal justice field. To be proficient in this field, I still have some learning to do and look forward to the task given to me. Although this course did teach me asignificant amount of information concerning criminal justice administration, and the three areas surrounding it, which include the police, courts, and corrections there is still more to be learned.

With this course it can be determined that without administrators keeping the various organizations running effectively and efficiently, there would be constant issues. Administrator’s job requires him or her to balance and prepare the budgets, provide guidance, give directions, and to preserve the departments order, and to keep communities safe. These details of the job would make this field in criminal justice rewarding and satisfying.

Conclusion

The job requirements of a criminal justice administer in the United States can be extremely demanding. The three foremost areas of criminal justice include the police, courts, and corrections. As an administrator overseeing the police department would be indeed the hardest of the three. Within a police department the chief of police would be the top administrator and in command of administrating the departments policies to all officers, detectives, and supporting staff.

References

Benson, B. (August, 2004). View from the Top: The Frustrations of Police Chiefs, and How to Solve Them. The Police Chief. Retrieved from http://www.policechiefmagazine.org/magazine/index.cfm?fuseaction=display_arch&article_id=361&issue_id=82004

Couwels, J. (January, 2011). Florida police chief charged with thwarting rape case against friend. CNN U.S. Retrieved from http://articles.cnn.com/2011-01-12/us/florida.police.chief.arrested_1_sexual-battery-windermere-police-department-charges-of-official-misconduct?_s=PM:US

Peak, K. (2010). Justice Administration: Police, Courts, and Corrections Management.

Retrieved DATE, 2010, from University of Phoenix Course Website.