How to Reduce Conflict in Police Roles
- 1). Make certain the chain of command is crystal clear. One reason police officers experience role conflict is that they may face pressures from more than person or department which are incompatible with each other. When placed in that position, a police officer will feel conflicted about what to do. Have regular one-on-one meetings and group meetings and make it clear exactly who has authority and how requests should be carried out.
- 2). Explain in writing and orally the amount of authority police officers have in their roles. Role conflict often occurs when officers are uncertain about their role and authority. Without that spelled out, confusion may occur and the police officers may start to question their own judgment.
- 3). Encourage police officers to have authority to recommend changes to procedures. This can't be done on the job but they should feel that if they are doing things that should be done differently on the job and procedures that should be changed to reduce role conflict, they should be able to make those suggestions and have them considered.
- 4). Ensure that police officers have the equipment and materials needed to execute their duties. This can mean having enough bulletproof vests or computers and vehicles. While there are restrictions due to budgets and number of officers available, having the materials and manpower is key to reducing conflict in police roles.
Source...