The Levels of Supervision for Police Officers on Duty

How closely supervised are police officers while on duty? The answer varies significantly based on the size and culture of the department. This article explores the different levels of supervision across various police agencies, drawing from personal experiences and statistics.

Small Department Supervision

Police departments of smaller sizes often have fewer officers on the force and consequently, less stringent supervision. For instance, during my initial years as a police officer, my agency consisted of only 19 sworn positions, with a minimum staffing of 2 per shift. This meant that on midnight shifts, the watch commander, often a more senior officer, was frequently the only supervisory figure present. Interestingly, I was promoted to watch commander within a week of clearing probation, which equated to less than a year on the force. By the time of my retirement, the agency had grown to 35 sworn positions, with a requirement for a sergeant or corporal to be on duty at all times. Additionally, during my career, a Lieutenant position was added to handle swing shifts from Tuesday to Saturday.

Large Department Supervision

In contrast, large city police departments often have a different structure. For example, the department I worked alongside had at least 100 officers on duty at any given time, with a sergeant assigned to each district. Furthermore, there was always a Lieutenant serving as the watch commander. This level of supervision reflects the complexity and size of the department, which requires more organized and structured management.

Level of Supervision Under Pressure

While in most situations, supervision is formal and structured, in certain emergency scenarios, police officers may operate with less formal supervision. A notable instance of this occurred when a police officer refused to call for a supervisor. According to the officer, unless actively asked to do so, they would not engage with a supervisor. Conversely, in situations where a supervisor was requested, the officer would instruct the precinct not to send a supervisor, preferring to independently manage the situation.

Conclusion

The level of supervision for police officers on duty is highly variable, dependent on the size and culture of the department. Smaller agencies often rely on more informal supervision, while larger departments maintain structured and formalized oversight.

Keywords

police supervision officer supervision on-duty supervision

References

Personal experiences and statistics provided by the author.