These guidelines are intended to provide instruction and guidance to police managers and supervisors concerned with carrying out personnel appraisal responsibilities. Data used in developing the guidelines were gathered from a literature review covering performance appraisal, promotion, and placement functions as well as a survey of personnel procedures followed by over 200 police departments throughout the country. While the emphasis here is on the patrolman position and his promotion either to corporal or sergeant, or his transfer to a lateral position to investigations or technical support, the guidelines are applicable to other police positions. The three substantive areas covered in the guidelines include performance appraisal, promotion, and placement; each section contains information on existing technologies and practices and specific recommendations for procedural improvements. 7 figures and 14 references.

Police performance appraisal is one of the most important components of law enforcement management affecting the quality of the services a department delivers as well as the satisfaction of its employees. Therefore, it is crucial that the performance appraisal process is conducted in an effective and equitable manner. Police Performance Appraisals: