ADMINISTRATION OF POLICE ORGANIZATION

Police - one of the pillars of the criminal justice system that has the specific
responsibility of maintaining law and order and combating crime within the society.
- comes from Latin "politia"-civil administration which itself derives from the
ancient Greek police "city"
Administration - an organizational process concerned with the implementation of
objectives and plans and internal operating efficiency.
Organization - a group of persons working together for a common goal or objectives.
Police Organization - a group of trained personnel in the field of public safety
administration engaged in the achievement of goals and objectives that promotes
the maintenance of peace and order, protection of life and property, enforcement of
the laws and the prevention of crimes.
Enforcement - means to compel obedience to a law, regulation or command.
Law Enforcement Agency - pertains to an organization responsible for enforcing the
laws.
Objectives - refer to the purpose by which the organization was created. Refer to the
goals of the organization.
Supervision - means the act of watching over the work or tasks of the members of the
organization to ensure that desired results are achieved.
Management - the process of directing and facilitating the work of people organized in
formal groups in order to achieve objectives. Judicious or wise use of resources
such as: manpower, material, money, equipment, supplies and time.
Hierarchy - represents the formal relationship among superiors and subordinates in any
given organization. Serve as the framework for the flow of authority downward and
obedience upward, through the department.
Authority - the right to command and control the behavior of employees in lower
positions within an organizational hierarchy. Must be viewed in terms of prescribed
roles rather than of individuals.
Management/Administrative Functions
1. Planning
2. Organizing
3. Directing
4. Controlling
5. Staffing
6. Reporting
7. Budgeting
Principles of efficient Management
* Division of work - work specialization can increase efficiency with the same amount of
effort.
* Authority and Responsibility - authority includes the right to command and the power
to require obedience. One cannot have authority without responsibility.

* Discipline - necessary for an organization to function effectively, however, the state of

the disciplinary process depends upon the quality of its leaders.
* Unity of Command - subordinate should receive orders from one superior only.
* Scalar Chain - the hierarchy of authority is the order of ranks from the highest to the
lowest levels of the organization. Show the vertical hierarchy of the organization which
defines an unbroken chain of units from top to bottom describing explicitly the flow of
authority.
Organizational Units in the Police Organization
1. Functional Units
Bureau - the largest organic functional unit within a large department; comprised of
several divisions.
Division - a primary subdivision of a bureau.
Section - functional unit within a division that is necessary for specialization.
Unit - functional group within a section or the smallest functional group within an
organization.
2. Territorial Units
Post - a fixed point or location to which an officer is assigned for duty.
Route - a length of streets designated for patrol purpose, also called line beat.
Beat - an area designed for patrol purposes whether foot or motorized.
Sector - an area containing two or more beat, route or post.
District - a geographical subdivision of a city for patrol purposes, usually with its own
station.
Area - a section or territorial division of a large city each comprised of designated
districts.
ORGANIZATIONAL PRINCIPLES
FOUR PRIMAL CONDITIONS OF AN ORGANIZATION
1. AUTHORITY
- the supreme source of government for any particular organization
- the right to exercise, to decide and to command by virtue of rank and position
2. MUTUAL COOPERATION
- an organization exists because it serves a purpose.
3. DOCTRINE
- provides for the organizations objectives - provides the various actions, hence,
policies, procedures, rules and regulations of the org. are based on the statement of
doctrines.
4. DISCIPLINE
- comprising behavioral regulations

ELEMENTS OF POLICE ORGANIZATION

1. UNITY OF COMMAND - dictates that there should only be ONE MAN
commanding the unit to ensure uniformity in the execution of orders.
2. SPAN OF CONTROL - the maximum number of subordinates that a superior can
effectively supervise
3. Factors affecting the span of control:
a) Leadership qualities of the supervisors
b) Nature of the job and work conditions
c) Complexity of task
d) Education and skill of the employees
4. DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY - conferring of an amount of authority by a
superior position to a lower-level position.
5. HIERARCHY OF AUTHORITY - the relationship between superiors and
subordinates serves as the framework for the flow of authority downward and
obedience upward through the department
6. HIERARCHY - represents the formal relationship among superiors and
subordinates in any given organization
7. SPECIALIZATION - the assignment of particular personnel to particular tasks
8. SPECIALIZATION OF JOBS (AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION) - the designation of
certain activities or tasks as ones that must be performed in a highly
technological, scientific or precise manner areas of police specialization include
undercover works, crime scene operations, legal advising, computer work, SWAT
operations and others
9. SPECIALIZATION OF PEOPLE (SPECIALISTS) - the designation of particular
persons as having expertise in a specific area of work signifies the adaptation of
an individual to the requirements through extensive training
10. CHAIN OF COMMAND - the arrangement of officers from top to bottom on the
basis of rank or position and authority.
11. COMMAND RESPONSIBILITY - dictates that immediate commanders shall be
responsible for the effective supervision and control.