Northern York County Police Consolidation

¶ … Northern York County Police Consolidation Experience by John T. Krimmel. Specifically it will answer questions about the article. The article compares Northern York County police departments with departments in Lancaster County, both in Pennsylvania.

What are the pros and cons of consolidating police agencies?

The pros of consolidating police agencies include cutting down on costs, not duplicating services, being more efficient, and making training and equipment that is more specialized, like crime labs and record keeping, which cuts down on costs. Experts like Krimmel believe that it can lead to a lower turnover in personnel, and better-trained officers, as well. It can help the department look at things differently and improve quality, too. When merging several small departments, it can even lead to lower purchasing costs, because purchasing can be done in bulk. The cons of merging include local residents may resist change, and may value their local police department. They may fear that a merged department will not provide service and protection as they always have done. They may see it as a political monopoly that will drive taxes higher, instead of saving money. In addition, many department heads feel they may lose control of their departments, and police officers may feel their jobs are threatened, along with their benefits and retirement, which could lead to resentment and even loss of employment. Studies indicate that large consolidations can become bureaucratic and much like corporations instead of police agencies.

Who will be in charge of the merged departments?

This is one of the issues associated with consolidating police departments. When many small departments are merged, there is no need for a chief for every department. In the York County case, each department's manager sat on a board of directors that helped guide the department and its practices. However, there will only be one ultimate chief of police, and that could be difficult for some members of the department to adjust to and work under.

Identify examples of problems dealing with educational levels, pay scale, and seniority.

Problems with educational levels, pay scale, and seniority are also issues with merged departments. Smaller departments may not have had the training opportunities that larger departments had, and their officers may not be as prepared or well versed in some areas, such as detective work or gang activities. This can affect pay scale, and different departments may have different scales that do not mesh into one overall scale. Benefits may be cut to save costs during a merger, too.

Which hiring standards related to the different departments in the merged cell are affected?

Hiring standards such as recruits from the police academy, educational requirements, and seniority are all effected by a merger. Each department may have different standards, and some officers may not meet requirements of more stringent agencies.

Polygraph and psychological exams are not required for some police agencies. Will all the agencies be required to take the exams after the merger?

It would seem that polygraph and psychological exams would be absolutely necessary in larger departments, in fact, they should be necessary in any department, regardless of size.