Police administration refers to the organization and management of policing. It involves making ethical and lawful decisions related to the hiring, management, retention, discipline, and training of police officers. Police administration can refer to how the policing function is organized at the national or societal level or more specifically to how individual police agencies and units are organized and managed. The term “police administration” is elastic and can refer to both the study of police organizations and to the practice of organizing and managing police.
Police administration is a broad topic that covers various aspects of policing. It includes the management of human resources, such as recruitment and selection, training, career development, leadership, and discipline. It also covers the basic principles of organization and administration of police patrol, traffic law enforcement, criminal investigation, and auxiliary and support units. Police administrators and managers are responsible for planning, organizing, activating, and controlling the modern police agency.
In terms of education, there are bachelors degrees in police administration and management, criminal justice administration, or law enforcement. These programs provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to become effective police administrators and managers.
Overall, police administration is an essential aspect of policing that ensures the effective and efficient delivery of law enforcement services to the community.