Police and Civilian Budget Preparation
Part 1
Police departments should hire civilian personnel to complete financial reports and prepare budgets for them. Although civilians may lack proper knowledge of policing, they are better placed to make police budgets and financial statements for the following reasons:
- Financial accounting skills – Most law enforcement officers lack the relevant financial skillsets to compile a financial report and prepare a budget (Lave & Miller, 2019, p.493). Budgeting is a meticulous process that requires careful oversight for accountability. The skills acquired during law enforcement training are not equivalent to financial accounting knowledge relevant to financial reporting.
- Corruption – Although sworn police officers are meant to be law enforcers, police departments are consistently associated with crime and impunity (Lave & Miller, 2019, p.32). Police departments lack enough transparency and integrity to run their budgets and financial reports because of their already damaged reputation (Lave & Miller, 2019, p.22). Even if police officers are allowed to handle their finances, it would be under great scrutiny.
- Civilian participation – The Las Vegas Nevada Metropolitan, Prince William County, and Indianapolis Metropolitan police departments began hiring and utilizing civilians at various capacities. Civilians who are not fighting for promotions can provide valuable insights into financial policies in police departments.
- Extra duties – Financial reporting and budget preparation is another additional duty that removes a policer officer from street patrol and other crime-solving activities. While police budgets are continuously shrinking, there is a dire need for extra human capital (Lave & Miller, 2019, p.112). Civilians can take on additional duties and release police officers to other tasks.
- Mistrust – An adage in quality management goes, “what gets measured, gets done.” The suspicion naturally present in police officers may hinder oversight and accountability in financial reporting (Lave & Miller, 2019, p.24). Considering police budgets are already strained, police officers are likely to be tempted to add or reduce figures so that budgets favor them. In return, improper accounting reduces accountability.
Part 2
Police departments should train sworn officers to complete financial reports and prepare budgets for themselves. Police officers have adequate knowledge of policing that civilians lack and are better placed to handle their budgets for the following reasons:
- Shrinking budgets: As it is, police budgets are greatly strained, and police officers’ needs are not adequately met (Lave & Miller, 2019, p.112). Police officers are more aware of their obligations than civilians to manage their budgets to meet overwhelming needs prudently.
- Relevant know-how – Civilians lack the proper insight into the life of a police officer. However, police officers are living that life that an outsider is expected to budget for and report. Hence, sworn officers should be allowed to complete financial reports and budgets because they are more familiar with their day-to-day lives.
- Running operations – 90% of police budgetary allocation goes to salaries. Consequently, what becomes of their day to day costs of running operations? Vehicle and computer maintenance, arms, and ammunition are barely covered. If police officers handle their financial reports and budgets, such unresolved issues have a better chance of coming to light (Lave & Miller, 2019, p.526). Inadequate resourcing of police operations is a hindrance to solving crimes.
- Improved skillsets – Training sworn officers to complete financial reports and prepare budgets would add to skill sets that are essential in enhancing civilians’ quality of life. Rather than accusing officers of illiteracy in financial matters (Lave & Miller, 2019, p.436), there should be more focus on training and development in this and other areas.
- Financial sanctions – Law enforcement agencies contribute financially towards settlements and judgments brought on them and their officers. Financial sanctions hence add to a cut in police budgets. A civilian may lack adequate knowledge to report on and include such issues in financial reporting as compared to a police officer.
References
Lave, T. R., & Miller, E. J. (Eds.). (2019). The Cambridge Handbook of Policing in the United
States. Cambridge University Press.