Questions and CORRECT Answers
Traditional Style - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- Traditional supervisors expect aggressive
enforcement from subordinates rather than engagement in community oriented activities or
policing of minor disorders. They are more likely than other types of supervisors to make
decisions because they tend to take over encounters with citizens or tell officers how to
handle those incidents. Traditional sergeants and lieutenants are highly task oriented and
expect subordinates to produce measurable outcomes—particularly arrests and citations—
along with
paperwork and documentation. Less inclined toward developing relationships, traditional
supervisors give more instruction to subordinates and are less likely to reward and more
likely to punish patrol officers. The traditional supervisor's ultimate concern is to control
subordinate behavior. Traditional supervisors are
more likely to support new policing initiatives if they are
consistent with aggressive law enforcement. More than
60 percent of these supervisors "agree strongly" that "enforcing the law is by far a patrol
officer's most important responsibility," compared with 14 percent of
innovative supervisors, 11 percent of supportive supervisors, and 11 percent of active
supervisors. Along with their no-nonsense approach to policing, traditional supervisors
strictly enforce rules and regulations and adhere to the chain of command.
Innovative Style - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- Innovative supervisors are characterized by a
tendency
to form relationships (i.e.,they consider more officers
to be friends), a low level of task orientation, and more
positive views of subordinates. These supervisors
are considered innovative because they generally
encourage their officers to embrace new philosophies
and methods of policing. Innovative supervisors are
defined by their expectations for community policing and problem-solving efforts by
subordinates. For example, 96 percent of these supervisors reported that they "agree strongly"
that "a good patrol officer will try to find out what residents think the neighborhood problems
are," compared to 48 percent of traditional supervisors, 68 percent of supportive supervisors,
and 68 percent of active supervisors. One goal of innovative supervisors is to help
subordinates implement community policing and problem-solving
, strategies by coaching, mentoring, and facilitating. They are less concerned with enforcing
rules and regulations,
report writing, or other task-oriented activities than
traditional supervisors. Unlike traditional supervisors,
innovative supervisors generally do not tell subordinates how to handle situations and do not
take over the situations themselves. They are more likely to delegate decision making. They
spend significantly
more time per shift dealing with the public or other officers than other supervisors do (15
percent
compared with 9 percent).
Supportive Style - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- These supervisors support subordinates by
protecting
them from discipline or punishment perceived as
"unfair" and by providing inspirational motivation. They
often serve as a buffer between officers and management to protect officers from
criticism and discipline. They believe this gives their officers space to perform duties without
constant worry of disciplinary action for honest mistakes. In some cases, supportive
supervisors do not have strong ties to or positive relations with management. They may
attempt to shield patrol officers from the police
administration. Thus, some supervisors classified as
supportive may function more as "protectors" than
"supporters." Of supportive supervisors, 68 percent reported that "protecting their officers
from unfair criticism and punishment" is one of their most important functions, compared
with 10 percent
of traditional supervisors, 5 percent of innovative
supervisors, and no active supervisors. The protective role adopted by some supportive
supervisors
can be a problem, however. Other research has found that shielding officers from
accountability mechanisms within the department can lead to police misconduct.
Supportive supervisors are less concerned with enforcing rules and regulations, dealing with
paperwork, or ensuring that officers do their work. They may encourage officers through
praise and recognition, act as counselors, or display concern for subordinates' personal and
professional well-being. The study found that supportive supervisors praise or reward
subordinate officers significantly more often during an
average shift (3 times per shift) than do other supervisors (2 times per shift).