THE DALLAS EXPERIENCE
ORGANIZATIONAL REFORM
BY
Mary ANN WycOFF
GEORGE L. KELLING
POLICE
FOUNDATIONThe Police foundation i 4 piatly landed epee, none
Somendaos of ths eputare hose 3 the uth and na acess
opel he Foandaton he Doce Unprine
fee fe mi on the Corman, Prema F
CONTENTS
Foreword
Preface
Note on Evaluation
Acknowledgments
Prologue
Executive Summary
Chronology
Introduction
1. The Context for Change
2 The Process of Change
3° Conclusion
References
About the Authors
Evaluation Staff
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IFOREWORD
In 1971 the Dalla Police Department, in association with
the Police Foundation, began 2 human resource development
program intended to produce vast organizational change and
personnel enhancement,
Reloimation and acceptance of innovative ideas and
programs are not easly attained in sry type of organiration
Such changes within our police department proved 0 be pa
ticularly dificu. Law enforcement, by nature, exits in a
climate of caution; the volume and extent of the proposed
changes were overwheliing to many members of the depart
rent
AL the time, department administrators believed that
temphsis on human resource developmen was the key to
‘operational improvement, attainment of goals, and
professionalism Tor the department. Plans were made to up:
grade minority recruitment practices, ater entrance
Fequitements, improve personnel management systems and
training programs, and decentraize major departmental lune
Some ofthe proposed programs were unsuccessful. Others
‘worked very well and continue to improve the operation of the
Dallas Police Department. ‘The ‘concepts of decentalzed
‘eighbothood stations and yeneralist/specalist tear palcing
never made it off the drawing board. proving the status of