How Compliance Works

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Regular supervisors and administrators have specified duties and responsibilities and may be unable to fully assume a new role while maintaining their present assignment. Therefore, the assignment of a compliance officer who has the global picture of departmental functions, who knows long-term goal expectations and who can assist with the implementation and sustain-ability of community problem solving policing, is, in this writer's opinion, a necessary component of the changing organization. The compliance officer does not directly supervise the actions of individual officers.

The purpose of a compliance officer is to inform, guide, assist, coach, counsel, provide direction, and to assure compliance of the department's mission. The compliance officer uses a variety of means to blend traditional policing with COP/CPOP, insuring that both sides of this complex issue remain at the forefront of the department's service delivery. This individual maintains tension on the system, constantly moving employees forward Omega Seamaster Replica ...
... in learning how to use successful problem solving procedures in combination with traditional norms. From this position, the compliance officer steps in when needed to provide guidance and nudging to keep the department moving toward the expected model of service delivery. Eventually, COP/CPOP becomes habit and routine with the level of sophistication and depth of analysis increasing with the passage of time. This ultimately leads to improved problem solving and a more participative community.

Depending on the organization's structure, the compliance officer should report either to the Chief/Sheriff or second in command. Executing primary role responsibilities are easier with fewer layers of higher-ranking officers between that individual and the Chief of Police or Sheriff.

Over time, the compliance officer will help guide the department from the traditional model of police service delivery to one where a combination of skills and knowledge will identify, reduce and minimize persistent problems and repeat calls for service. The compliance officer will also engage the community to assist in developing a closer relationship with police and sharing responsibility for their neighborhoods. Providing quality police service in partnership with community members is one of the primary goals of COP/CPOP.

Organizational transition is a slow process often fraught with setbacks and disappointment. Barriers to change can be overcome if the goals and objectives are clear, adequate training is provided, expectations are communicated to all personnel, and willingness Cartier Replica exists among supervisors to show patience and perseverance as the new systems come on line. The compliance officer must be able to reach both horizontally and vertically throughout the organization assisting in the transition from traditional to community oriented policing.

The compliance officer is important to the department's goal of transitioning to COP/CPOP. Many Chief's/Sheriff's would say they represent that role and by adding another layer of management will only confuse the issues. We argue that the role of the Chief/Sheriff includes a wide variety of responsibilities that inhibit the level of attention they can provide. Moreover, a designated compliance officer can offer a perspective that may not be possible if he or she were closer to actual operations. After all, the goal is to have departmental members practicing the concepts of community policing within the department's mission to the community and itself. A way to accomplish this goal is the appointment of an individual whose primary responsibility is to guide, mentor, coach and measure compliance to the organization's COP/CPOP role change.