The average structure of the police force has always been a well-defined hierarchy. With the chief at the top making all the calls down to the numerous officers carrying out orders barking down the line. While this has worked for many years, is it really the right path for departments today? Or is there a more effective structure to use? Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Pyramid of Power Modeled after the military model, the ranks within the hierarchy of a police department are very structured and very specific. This has been the way for many many years. The average structure from top to bottom is usually; Chief, Captain, Lieutenant, Sergeant, Detective and finally Officer. While a few additional ranks may be added here and there, this is generally the basic structure (Browne, C.). The further you go, the more people there are in those positions. Just like a pyramid. The Chief, who is at the top of the food chain, has the final say on everything that happens within the department. More of a figurehead, they are usually the liaison to the public on behalf of the department (Browne, C.). Captains are more responsible than all staff. They are usually designated over certain departments within the organization. Lieutenants are usually responsible for a group of officers, as well as an entire shift. Sergeants are generally considered supervisors of junior officers. Detectives are primarily involved in investigations while officers are the frontline law enforcement officers towards the public (Browne, C.). This structure has been very effective over the years. It produces a rank structure of authority and delegation throughout the organization. However, this type of system also produces some internal problems. These may include, but are not limited to, respect and trust between different levels and having to follow policies established by those “behind a desk” and not on the front lines (Wuestewald, T. 2006). A new and more revised system The so-called participatory management helps to solve these problems. Organizations create “steering committees” that include all the different ranks. These committees work together to benefit the entire organization. Issues such as policies and procedures to discipline and hiring techniques are examined and re-evaluated to work effectively and efficiently (Wuestewald, T. 2006). Knowing that the entire department is working together toward the same common goal helps build morale and respect across all ranks. The corrections department I currently work for has begun to become increasingly participatory in the ways discussed above. While we still operate under a hierarchical structure that I never see any department completely eliminating, we have a steering committee that has reviewed all of our policies and procedures and asked for input on what changes should and need to be made from all levels of staff. They focus primarily on the officers as they are the front line forces within the facility and they know what needs to be done and may have better ideas on how to get it done. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper now from our expert writers. Get a Custom Essay In conclusion, although there is a strict hierarchical structure within law enforcement, problems arise and it takes the entire department to solve these problems. Participatory management is a great solution to the needs of these organizations and everyone can benefit from the work that a committee does.