Officer views in contracting, merger, and hybrid agencies

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to assess officer perceptions of consolidation of law enforcement agencies under three specific models: contracting, merger and a hybrid of regionalization and contracting. Design/methodology/approach A survey was administered to 139 officers employed by four agencies using one of the models of interest. The survey asked officers their views on consolidation and how it has affected organizational and employment characteristics. Findings Officers generally support consolidation, but views vary by agency type. Officers in the contracting agencies, for example, generally viewed consolidation as less cost effective than officers in other agencies viewed it, but were more likely to say crime decreased and job security and workload improved after consolidation. Officers in the hybrid agency were less positive about changes in some employment and organizational characteristics. Research limitations/implications The sample size and response rates are low, and no comparison to other agencies is available, but the examination offers new information and lessons. Practical implications Communities considering police consolidation must consider a specific model and how to communicate changes to officers. This research illuminates officer perspectives on each. Originality/value This is the first investigation of views of shared services by specific model of consolidation. Such work is particularly valuable given increased interest in consolidation in recent years.