Problem solving and decision making are the essential job functions and the responsibility of all supervisors and managers in law enforcement. This usually includes from the rank of chief down to corporals. Also included in the team are patrolman who utilize these techniques on an everyday basis. As a supervisor you may encounter problems that deal with the public, internal, short term, long term, personal, organizational, and complex situations. There is no formula for true problem solving. Decisions may be made by using strategic planning-long term (chief), administrative planning-middle management (captain or lieutenant), or operational planning-first line supervisor (corporal or sergeant).

Law Enforcement organizations regularly use three types of decision making (1) command decision where a supervisor or chief will make their own decision with little or no input from others, (2) consultative decision where one uses input and opinions from others. The final decision is still made by the one in charge but only after considering the input of others, and (3) consensus decision made democratically by a group usually a joint decision made by m

An important management tool to have is a decision making process or what I call a plan. A good supervisor should have a systematic approach to solving a problem. There are several types of methods you can use snap decisions, delegating, not deciding, and using computers. In some cases to keep morale up or to encourage a young patrolman a supervisor can delegate or use participatory decision making. Delegation sends the decision making process to a subordinate. The supervisor is removed from the process at this point until it is time to report the results. In participatory decision making employees have a say in the decision making process. Employees prefer participatory decision making because the decisions often directly affect them. It is important to keep morale high and to keep employees motivated to meet the department’s goals, objectives, and needs.

Many problems can be effectively solved through a seven-step decision making process (1) define the specific problem, (2) gather all facts concerning the problem, (3) generate alternatives, (4) analyze the alternatives, (5) select the best alternative, (6) implement the alternative, (7) evaluate the decision. In my opinion if a supervisor uses these seven-steps they have displayed a thorough and complete style

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