NCJ Number
27929
Date Published
1974
Length
10 pages
Annotation
AS PART OF A LARGER STUDY OF ASSAULTS ON POLICE CONDUCTED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA, THIS STUDY EXAMINED THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A POLICE OFFICER'S TRAINING AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS, AND HIS PRONENESS TO ASSAULT.
Abstract
AN IMPORTANT REASON FOR STUDYING THE ASSOCIATION OF CHARACTERISTICS OF POLICE OFFICERS AND ASSAULT FREQUENCY IS THAT IT MAY PROVIDE AN INSIGHT INTO THE COMPLEX MATTER OF POLICE PERFORMANCE. IT WAS THOUGHT THAT IF IT IS POSSIBLE TO DETERMINE THOSE CHARACTERISTICS HIGHLY ASSOCIATED WITH ASSAULT FREQUENCY, THEN IT MAY BE POSSIBLE TO IMPROVE CURRENT METHODS OF POLICE SELECTION, TRAINING, AND MANAGEMENT. HOWEVER, THIS STUDY DEMONSTRATES THAT A POLICE OFFICER'S PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS AND THE AMOUNT AND RECENCY OF HIS TRAINING ACCOUNT FOR A MERE SIX PERCENT OF THE VARIATION IN ASSAULT FREQUENCY. THE DATA ON POLICE OFFICERS AND THE NUMBER OF ASSAULTS COMMITTED AGAINST THEM WAS COLLECTED FROM THE DEPARTMENT RECORDS OF ELEVEN MUNICIPALITIES ON 1470 SWORN OFFICERS. THE PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS INCLUDED AGE, RANK, LENGTH OF SERVICE, EDUCATION, HEIGHT, WEIGHT, AND MASS RATIO. ALTHOUGH IT WAS FOUND THAT INCREASED AGE, RANK AND LENGTH OF SERVICE WERE ACCOMPANIED BY A SOMEWHAT LOWER ASSAULT FREQUENCY, THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THESE CORRELATIONS IS NEGATED BY THE TENDENCY TO GIVE OLDER, HIGHER RANKING OFFICERS ASSIGNMENTS INVOLVING LESS RISK. THE OTHER PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS SHOW EXTREMELY WEAK RELATIONSHIPS AS DOES TRAINING. THE CONCLUSION MAY BE DRAWN THAT ADDITIONAL TRAINING USING PRESENT-DAY METHODS AS WELL AS ATTEMPTS TO RECRUIT INDIVIDUALS OF CERTAIN WEIGHTS, HEIGHTS, AND OTHER PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS ANALYZED CAN SERVE NO REAL FUNCTION IN PREVENTING ASSAULTS. FOR OTHER REPORTS OF POLICE ASSAULTS STUDY, SEE NCJ-27926, 27927, 27930, NCJ-27932, 27862, 27863, 27864, AND 27867. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)