Competence and Policing

In the United States competency frameworks are a well-kept secret in the policing sector with reliance being placed on less adequate tradi­tional processes. Today considerable investment is being made in the United Kingdom and other countries developing competency frame­works as a management tool to improve police performance. The frameworks support a number of personnel processes for both police officers and police support staff including recruitment and selection training and development performance and development reviews promotion leadership development inefficiency procedures and workforce planning.This book describes the results of an opinion-seeking piece of research with Texas Police Chiefs. They identify the strengths and weaknesses the introduction of competency frameworks into Texas policing arrangements would bring. Their voice sheds some professional light on the issues that will face the city and county governments and their Police Chiefs especially those contemplating organizational change. This at a time when doing nothing is probably not a viable option.