Regional law enforcement

Advantages of intergovernmental programs and arrangements in the area of local law enforcement and the means for implementing such programs. Smaller police jurisdictions face ever-increasing problems in view of continually rising operational costs and the fact that the criminal in a modern vehicle is no respecter of jurisdictional boundaries. This work discusses the problem and suggests solutions through coordination or consolidation of various units. The author begins with a brief overview of the quality and quantity of service of several police agencies representative of metropolitan areas. After covering areas that he believes to be below required levels, he discusses various means by which regional law enforcement programs might be organized to greater advantage. Functions such as the following are analyzed in terms of their capability of being performed on an area wide basis -- recruitment and training of personnel, planning and research operations, management of records, communications, detention, laboratory services, criminal investigation, vice repression, juvenile delinquency control, and special task force operations. Numerous examples of coordinated or consolidated programs currently in operation are cited. Throughout the discussion, there is emphasis on reorganization and integration of police services, but without unnecessary sacrifice of local control.