CCJS 340 Chapter Notes - Chapter 11: Police Misconduct, Proactivity
11 Dec 2019
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Chapter 11: How Police Supervisory Styles Influence Patrol Officer Behavior
•supervisor characteristics include personal features such as age as well as level of
training and experience
•4 main supervisory styles
–traditional supervisors—> ultimate concern to control subordinate behavior
>>expect aggressive enforcement from subordinates rather than engagement
in community-oriented activities or policing of minor disorders
>>more likely than other types of supervisors to make decisions because they
tend to take over encounters with citizens or tell officers how to handle those
incidents
>>highly task oriented and expect subordinates to produce measurable
outcomes
>>less inclined toward developing relationships
>>less likely to reward, but more likely to punish patrol officers
>>no-nonsense approach to policing and supportive of aggressive law
enforcement
–innovative supervisors—> characterized by a tendency to form relationships, a
low level of task orientation, and more positive views of subordinates
>>considered innovative because they generally encourage their officers to
embrace new philosophies and methods of policing
>>defined by their expectations for community policing and problem solving
efforts by subordinates
>>one goal is to help subordinates implement community policing and
problem-solving strategies by coaching, mentoring, and facilitating
>>more likely to delegate decision making than to take over situations
themselves
>>spend significantly more time per shift dealing with the public or other
officers than other supervisors do
–supportive supervisors
>>support subordinates by protecting them from discipline or punishment
perceived as “unfair” and by providing inspirational motivation
>>often serve as a buffer between officers and management to protect
officers from criticism and discipline
∆believe this gives their officers space to perform duties without constant
worry of disciplinary action for honest mistakes
>>sometimes functions more as “protectors” than “supporters”
∆can be a problem—> shielding officers from accountability mechanisms
can lead to police misconduct
Document Summary
Chapter 11: how police supervisory styles influence patrol officer behavior: supervisor characteristics include personal features such as age as well as level of training and experience, 4 main supervisory styles. Traditional supervisors > ultimate concern to control subordinate behavior. >>expect aggressive enforcement from subordinates rather than engagement in community-oriented activities or policing of minor disorders. >>more likely than other types of supervisors to make decisions because they tend to take over encounters with citizens or tell officers how to handle those incidents. >>highly task oriented and expect subordinates to produce measurable outcomes. >>less likely to reward, but more likely to punish patrol officers. >>no-nonsense approach to policing and supportive of aggressive law enforcement. Innovative supervisors > characterized by a tendency to form relationships, a low level of task orientation, and more positive views of subordinates. >>considered innovative because they generally encourage their officers to embrace new philosophies and methods of policing.
