Abstract
The Chandler Police Department is home to more than three hundred and twenty officer employed by the state and approximately one hundred and fifty civilians. The Department has three police stations to serve over two hundred and forty thousand individuals living in and around the region. The Desert Breeze Substation, the Main Station at the Chandler Police Department and the Chandler Heights Substation serves as subdivisions within the organization. Operations within these divisions form two separate categories: Professional Services and Field Operations. Both entities adhere to the chain of command that serves to create order in the organization. The general aim of the Chandler Police Department makes one readily want to become a part of the organization. The mission statement: “To provide a safe community where people can live, work, and thrive” presents a feeling of comfort to residents and prospective members of the Chandler Police Department. The writer believes that having knowledge of the foundations and principles of the police department allows law enforcement executives to truly understand the external and internal operations of that exist within the organization. In order to successfully apply for the position of chief of police at Chandler Police Station in Arizona, the write sought additional information on the structure of the local police force, the level of crime, the current issues in the political sector that impacts on the police department, the unions that seek to protect the department, and the policy regarding the employment status of others in the said field. The knowledge will assist the writer to make a solid application for the position of Chief of Police for the Chandler Police in Arizona.
Key Words and Phrases:
Internal and external operations, crime, crime rate, union, political players, civilians, field operations, professional services
The community of Chandler, Arizona boasts a proud history, extraordinary amenities, very low crime rate, and makes for the ideal destination for residents and visitors alike. In order to maintain it positive image, the officers who serve in the division recognize that only a high level of self-confidence, and the support and respect from the residents and visitors to the city enables the Police Department to meet and maintain their role as one of the finest in the country. The writer recognizes that in order to become a successful Chief of Police at the Chandler Police Department, there is need to understand that the department’s goal is to make the community safe so that people will to live and work in the city of Chandler. The Chandler Police Department maintains their status as the best by providing some of the best-trained, highly equipped and dedicated officers.
The Chandler Police Department offers community policing which is “in essence, collaboration between the police and the community that identifies and solves community problems,” (Bureau of Justice Assistance, 1994, p.7). This form of policing is important for the positive development of every community as the police as the police seek to reinvent their role as the solitary protector of law and order in the community. Community policing is integral in building the quality of the neighborhood and as such, the role of the Police Chief is vital to the continued development of this innovative style of policing in the community.
Type of Government Structure
In order to help to serve as a Police Chief, Spence et.al notes that the new Police Chief must be “armed with the community’s vision,” (Spence et.al, n.d, p.25). With this is in mind, “the chief is now responsible for creating a detailed implementation plan for the new department,” “Spence, et.al, n.d., p.25). However, the planning must include the government hierarchy that exists in Chandler. A Chief of Police must have the support of the governing body of the city and therefore extensive researcher must be carried out before applying for the role. In Chandler, the community has a mayor, a deputy mayor, and six members of the city council. These legislators are important to the financial and legal aspects of the city. The city council members elect the deputy mayor from among its members. Importantly, the judiciary council represents the everyday life of the city, including the budgetary resources of the city. There is a strong need for “a detailed budget for the transition phase as well as for the Police Executive Research Forum: first few years of operation,” and the findings reveal that the Mayor and his team are strong supporters of financing the Chandler Police Department.
The City of Chandler has a typical council-manager style of local government and this is important for any new Chief of Police to know. This style of government possesses a well-built political management of elected officials through a council. There is strong managerial practice “of an appointed local government manager,” (Frequently Asked Questions: Mayor and Council, 2014, par.1) that serves to “establish a representative system where all power is concentrated in the elected council and where the council hires a professionally trained manager to oversee the delivery of public services,” (Frequently Asked Questions: Mayor and Council, 2014, par.1). The Mayor serves a term of two years, but the Council members serve for four years. This is important as the Chief of Police needs to begin to build a relationship with the Mayor even before his election to the positions so as to have a sound relationship that will help to effect the changes and development in the city.
The Mayor and Council act as the legislative body and represent the role as the community's decision makers. In other words, whatever the council decides, it stems from the needs of the community and therefore this is important to the positive development in community policing in the city. Power and authority is a central to the Mayor and his Council. They make approvals on the budgets that the police department needs to run its operation. In addition, the council determines and approves the tax rate in the city even as they focus on the aims of the community. One can see that the role of the mayor and his team in Chandler is quite important for the community growth, capital improvement plans, development of land, and strategic planning. In fact the Mayor and Council members employ and appraise the City Manager, City Magistrate, City Clerk, and City Attorney’s performances. Spence et.al opines every new Police Chief should have a mission statement that “convey[s] a commitment to the community’s desire for a certain style of policing captures both the department’s and community’s visions,” (Spence et.al, n.d, p.28), but this mission statement with it vision to serves the community effectively can never become a reality unless one recognizes the importance of the Mayor and his council in the city.
Spence et.al further adds that “the mission of the Department is to work in partnership with the residents and businesses of the community to provide a safe and secure environment through the delivery of fair and impartial police services, proactive problem solving, and increased community partnerships,” (Spence et.al, p,28). This feat cannot become a reality unless the new Chief of Police recognizes that there must be a good relationship with the legislative body as “the Mayor and Council may or may not adopt them and may modify the recommendations,” (Frequently Asked Questions: Mayor and Council, par.3). In other words each arm of the community “is bound by whatever action the Mayor and Council takes,” (Frequently Asked Questions: Mayor and Council, par.3).
Kelling and Wycoff suggest that “strategy formulation develops a strategy, while planning describes the current strategy to top management and provides the link to detailed programming and budgeting,” (Kelling & Wycoff, 2001, p.3). The process is important as it helps the Police Chief to organize the development of the city. One must have a plan of action in order to become effective an effective leader. Hence background analysis of the crime rate and the types of crime in the jurisdiction is important. Arguably, one of the most effective way to create changes and strategies in the city, one must be cognizant of the “new ideas, new technologies, new ways to meet [the] needs [of the people],” (Kelling & Wycoff, 2001, p.3).
The 2009 – 2012 statistics of Chandler is quite encouraging as the crime rate is low in comparison to other cities. In fact, it makes the role of the Chief Police officer easy as the focus can shift to continuing to develop a strong relationship between the police and the community.
In concluding, the statistics for the crime rate needs updating as the report for the period 2009 – 2012 does not take into account the rise in crime around the world and the impact this might have on the current crime rate in Chandler. In addition, the writer would need to ask follow – up questions on the specific job description of the Chief of Police in Chandler as there is no specific specification for such in any available document. The recognizes that in order to boost visitor arrival and a good public image information may become tampered as no one is above self-gratification and the need to “look good” at all times. Therefore, the writer would seek an audience with other members of the police department in an informal manner to ascertain the truth about the crime statistics in the city.
While there is the general textbook approach to becoming an effective Chief of Police, there is a limit to the specifications of the Chandler Police Chief position. Therefore, the writer would need additional information on the role of the union and health care benefits as they relate to the specific city and the specific position. Not much information can be found on these pressing issues as the city of Chandler appears to be a close – knitted community and as such the writer would need more information on those all important issue.
Reference
Bureau of Justice Assistance, (August, 1994) Understanding Community Policing – A
Framework for Action,, U.S. Department of Justice Office, Internet version.
Kelling, George & Wycoff, Mary Ann, (2001, May 22) The Evolving Strategy of Policing:
Justice Programs, U. S. Department of Justice. Internet Version. Viewed at Evolving
Strategy of Policing.pdf
Spence et.al (n.d) Guidelines for Starting and Operating a New Police Department, US
Viewed at starting and operating a new police department (1) pdf_adobe reader
Welcome to Chandler, Frequently Asked Questions: Mayor and Council Viewed at:
<http://www.chandleraz.gov/default.aspx?pageid=609> Accessed: October 23, 2014
