Law Enforcement And Supervision
Respond to at least two class peers.
Leonhard F. Fuld was the first to submit a doctoral dissertation in regard to Police Administration. Fuld
conducted a critical study of police organizations in the United States in which he analyzed various aspects of
police organizations. Fuld looked at the hiring of officers all the way to how they enforced the law. Fuld found
that poor administration caused organizational failure and ineffectiveness. Fuld’s approach emphasizes
management control. Fuld’s work later became the foundation for the “command and control” style of
administration. This is also referred to as top-down management. This is a hierarchal administrative structure
that is organized by ranks with a single person responsible for all personnel in the organization. In a police
department, this is typically the Chief of Police.
The pros of this administration are that everyone has a clear and precise understanding of what their role is.
The person at the top makes the decision that takes the ambiguity out of things. There is more supervision and
which includes additional checks and balances to ensure everything is done by the book. The cons are stifling
the ingenuity of the employees. Change and evolution of the department can be hard to come by even when
needed. In some situations, it is also considered a fear-based administration style which means unhappy
employees and potential high turnover rates.
