Abuse of Police Authority: A National Study of Police Officers' Attitudes

• NCJ Number: 189242
• Author(s): David Weisburd; Rosann Greenspan; Edwin E. Hamilton; Kellie A. Bryant; Hubert Williams
• Date Published: 2001
• Length: 206 pages
• Grant Number(s): 97-CK-WX-0047
• Sponsoring Agency: Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS)
• Corporate Author: Police Foundation
• Sale Source: Police Foundation
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This report presents the methodology and findings of a survey of a representative sample of more than 900 police officers drawn from an estimated population of 350,000 American municipal and county police for the purpose of soliciting their attitudes about sensitive questions on police abuse of authority.

Abstract

The telephone survey consisted of more than 80 questions that related to the problem of police abuse of authority. The survey focused on the abuse of authority and the use of force, the code of silence, social factors, departmental responses, controlling abuse, and community policing. The survey found that respondents believed that extreme cases of police abuse of authority are rare; however, a substantial minority of officers believed that it is sometimes necessary to use more force than is legally allowed. Despite strong support for norms that recognize the boundaries of police authority, a majority of officers stated that it is not unusual for police to ignore improper conduct by their fellow officers. Respondents believed that training and education programs are effective means of preventing police from abusing their authority. They also maintained that their own department takes a "tough stand" on the issue of police abuse. They stated that a department's chief and first-line supervisors can have an important role in preventing abuse of authority. The sample believed that the public and the media are too concerned with police abuses of authority. Further, respondents supported core principles of community policing, believing that it reduces or has no impact on the potential for police abuse of authority. A majority of African-American respondents believed that police treat whites better than African-Americans and other minorities and that police officers are more likely to use physical force against minorities or the poor. Few white police officers shared these views. Appended survey instrument with responses, a report on the focus group of police scholars and executives, a report on the focus group of rank-and-file police officers, and a report on the focus group of police supervisors