Criminal Justice Workplace Observation 1

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RUNNING HEAD: Criminal Justice Workplace Observation










Criminal Justice Workplace Observation
Steven Griffiths
CJA444
Mike Raneses
University of Phoenix
5/26/2013









Criminal Justice Workplace Observation 2

Organizational Climate
Coming from the United States Army to the civilian world, I expected a world of change as there
are many differences between the two worlds.
Law enforcement agencies and the military are alike in many ways; there is a chain of command,
leaders and subordinates, as well as rules, regulations, and a sense of duty and honor when you come to
work every day. In essence, leadership is more than a simple concept created through the ages to receive
a large amount of attention both then and now to deal with incidents that arise from business, local and
federal government, as well as various religious organizations. In some ways, one could liken the basis of
leadership to that of being a parent. It should be noted however, that not everyone in a leadership position
actually leads, they simply direct. A better way to put it would be to say that they rule over their
followers, is it a case of self-delusion or self-deception? It all depends on the person in question.
Currently at my agency (Nez Perce County Sheriffs Department) the organizational climate is simple, yet
effective: A Captain to see over the administrative responsibilities of the jail and its staff, a Lieutenant to
handle the issues of the facility itself, a Sergeant who has direct supervision over the jail and its staff, and
finally 3 Corporals to handle daily leadership for the 3 shifts that are worked. Morreale (2004)
Leadership is a process, not a position. Many in leadership positions demand respect based on their rank
and title. However, respect is earned. It cannot be commanded. Most police agencies have maintained a
tradition and structure fashioned after a military organizational model.
Influential Persons
In the confines of law enforcement organizations, one of the most influential individuals is the
Chief of Police, or the Sheriff, or the Chief Deputy. All of these people either lead by example, through
practiced behaviors of leadership, or the stern following of the law, to which they know they are not
above, not by a long shot. Their inspiration to others stems from a long career on the job seeing people
come and go, rise and fall, promote or wash out. They behave they way they want the officers or deputies
under them to act. A prime example of Influential leadership within a police department is Patrick V.
Murphy. During the 1970s he assumed command as Police Commissioner of the New York Police
Criminal Justice Workplace Observation 3

Department, that, at the time, was one of the most corrupt organizations in the U.S. with more of the force
on payoffs than not, and crime being allowed to flourish within the city. A hundred years of police
payoffs a system called the pad was ended by Murphy, Thomas A. Reppetto, a police historian and
author, said in an interview on Friday. And he introduced command accountability. Mr. Murphy also
established a good-will program called Cop of the Block, in which officers were encouraged to get to
know the people on their beats to gain their trust. The program was a model for other departments
developing what became known as community policing tactics. (Baker, 2011).
Make decisions and act on them. We [citizens] trust you enough to give you a gun and make life
and death decisions, therefore, we trust you enough to make common sense ones. Assisting people, giving
them rides home, etc. do not need permission from supervisors. Just advise over the radio of your status
and intentions.


References
Morreale, S.A. (2004). Preparing Leaders for Law Enforcement. Retrieved from
http://www.policechiefmagazine.org/magazine/index.cfm?fuseaction=display_arch&article_id=1396&iss
ue_id=102004
Baker, A. (2011). Patrick V. Murphy, Police Leader Who Reformed New York Force, Dies at 91.
Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/17/nyregion/patrick-v-murphy-91-ny-police-
commissioner-in-1970s-dies.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0