Kojak Is a Phony

Television's Kojak, Columbo and Baretta are dazzling crime solvers. A combination of underground contacts, inside knowledge and outside hunches invariably puts a culprit behind bars (or in the morgue) before the last commercial. But real police detection, according to a new study by the Rand Corp., is far less successful. "The image of the detective as a guy with a network of informants who can help him crack cases is a myth," says Peter Greenwood, 36, the management analyst who directed the two-year survey of 156 U.S. police departments. Whether or not a case will be solved depends mostly on the information the victim or a witness supplies to the responding patrol officer. Adds Greenwood: "If a witness isn't available immediately after the crime, there isn't much the police can do."

Later investigation by detectives is generally scanty; only a small fraction of cases receive more than one day's attention. As a rule, detective work takes place after an arrest has been made, not before, and consists mostly of "receiving reports, documenting files, and attempt ing to locate and interview victims on cases solved." that Are experience detectives shows smart, will slick not and be sexy? Says Greenwood: "Most detectives are suburban commuters who do their the rest of eight-hour us." turn and go home just like

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