Question 1

During the political era, police department structure was decentralized and controlled by community politicians.

Accepted Answer

During the political era, police departments operated within a decentralized structure, which often placed direct control of the department in the hands of local politicians and community leaders.

Question 2

Organizational maintenance refers to those administrative activities that maintain the department's ability to respond to public needs.

Accepted Answer

Organizational maintenance activities include tasks such as budgeting, equipment maintenance, and record-keeping, which ensure that the department can function effectively in serving the public.

Question 3

Which of the following terms refers to the general managing and organizing that occurs at the highest levels of an organization?
A) mid-level management
B) administration
C) supervision
D) discipline

Accepted Answer

Administration refers to the general managing and organizing that occurs at the highest levels of an organization. Mid-level management is focused on supervising lower-level managers and carrying out the directives of top-level management. Supervision refers to overseeing the work of employees within a specific department or team. Discipline refers to correcting behavior or performance issues of employees.

Question 4

Suboptimization refers to the practice of individuals or units concentrating on their own objectives without considering the department's overall goals.

Accepted Answer

Suboptimization occurs when individual units or departments focus solely on their own goals and objectives, disregarding the overall objectives of the organization. This can lead to inefficiencies and conflicts between departments, ultimately hindering the organization's success.

Question 5

Police departments have identifiable boundaries.In this view, "boundaries" refer to:
A) geographical barriers
B) the department's goals and the people it serves
C) budget constraints
D) managerial priorities

Accepted Answer

Boundaries in this context refer to the scope of the police department's jurisdiction and the community it serves. It encompasses the goals of the department and the demographics of the population it serves, rather than geographical barriers, budget constraints or managerial priorities.

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT an activity performed in the typical large organization?
A) task performance
B) facilitating tasks
C) supervising task performance
D) task avoidance

Accepted Answer

Task avoidance is not an activity performed in a typical large organization. In fact, it is considered as a negative behavior or an obstacle to achieving organizational goals. A large organization aims to ensure that all employees actively participate in task performance, facilitating tasks, and supervising task performance.

Question 7

The Wickersham Commission encouraged America's law enforcement agencies to adopt a "law and order" focus.

Accepted Answer

The Wickersham Commission, which was created by President Hoover in 1929 to study law enforcement in the U.S., did indeed encourage law enforcement agencies to adopt a "law and order" approach to combating crime. The Commission's report recommended better training for police officers, coordination between federal and local law enforcement agencies, and a focus on preventing crime before it happened through community policing and other measures.

Question 8

Many of the problems and concerns that confront police managers and administrators are the same ones that face managers and administrators in other lines of work.

Accepted Answer

While there are unique challenges to managing a law enforcement agency, many of the issues related to personnel management, budgeting, communication, and organizational structure are similar to those faced by managers in other industries.

Question 9

The community policing era preceded the 1980s' return to law and order.

Accepted Answer

The community policing era emerged in response to the 1980s' "law and order" approach to policing.

Question 10

Police work in America is unique because:
A) employees handle a wide range of roles and tasks
B) sworn officers have the authority to arrest and use deadly force when necessary
C) agencies are expected to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week
D) all of these choices

Accepted Answer

All of the options are correct. Police work in America is unique because of the wide range of roles and tasks that police officers handle. Sworn officers have the authority to arrest and use deadly force when necessary, which is a unique responsibility compared to other professions. Additionally, police agencies in America are expected to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Question 11

During the progressive reform era, department structures were highly centralized and organized along military lines.

Accepted Answer

During the progressive reform era, department structures were decentralized and organized along functional lines.

Question 12

In police organizations, line personnel provide support and assistance.

Accepted Answer

In police organizations, line personnel are typically the officers who directly interact with the public to enforce laws and maintain order. They are not considered to be providing support and assistance, but rather carrying out the main functions of the organization. Support and assistance roles may be filled by administrative or support staff, supervisors, or specialized units within the organization.

Question 13

Policing has recently entered into a seventh historical era, the homeland security era.

Accepted Answer

This is correct. Policing has recently entered into a seventh historical era, the homeland security era. It is characterized by increased focus on preventing and responding to terrorism and other threats to national security.

Question 14

The concept of "boundaries" in police administration refers to the geographic borders in which the agency operates.

Accepted Answer

The concept of "boundaries" in police administration refers to the limits of authority and responsibility of the agency, not just the geographic borders in which it operates.

Question 15

The community relations era was characterized by participative management.

Accepted Answer

The community relations era was characterized by companies engaging in participative management, involving stakeholders and community members in decision-making processes.

Question 16

Ronald Reagan's election in 1982 marked the beginning of 12 years of "law and order" government.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Ronald Reagan's election in 1982 marked the...

Question 17

Organization is concerned with the placement of people in the department.

Accepted Answer

Organization involves determining the roles, responsibilities, and relationships between individuals and groups within a department or organization, including the placement of people within the department.

Question 18

Goals are the specific processes an organization uses to direct its efforts.

Accepted Answer

Goals are the outcomes or objectives an organization aims to achieve, not the specific processes used to achieve them. Processes or strategies are the methods or steps taken to reach those goals.

Question 19

POSDCORB stands for:
A) planning, organizing, staffing, disciplining, coordinating, reporting, and budgeting
B) planning, organizing, staffing, directing, coordinating, reporting, and boundary spanning
C) political maneuvering, organizing, staffing, disciplining, coordinating, reporting, and budgeting
D) planning, organizing, staffing, directing, coordinating, reporting, and budgeting

Accepted Answer

POSDCORB is an acronym used in management and it stands for planning, organizing, staffing, directing, coordinating, reporting, and budgeting. This acronym represents the seven key functions of a manager and is a helpful tool for organizing and understanding the various responsibilities of a management position. Choice A is incorrect because it includes "disciplining," which is not a typical function in the POSDCORB framework. Choice B is incorrect because it includes "boundary spanning," which is not typically included in the POSDCORB framework. Choice C is incorrect because it includes "political maneuvering," which is not a standard function in the traditional POSDCORB framework.

Question 20

The first historical policing era was the progressive reform era.

Accepted Answer

The first historical policing era is commonly recognized as the Political Era, which started in the early 19th century, preceding the Progressive Reform Era.

Quiz 1: Introduction to Police Administration