NCJ Number
82135
Date Published
1981
Length
59 pages
Annotation
This report describes the effort undertaken to identify personality characteristics related to the performance of certain entry level tasks of police officers in Florida.
Abstract
Three main sources of personality characteristics were reviewed: a job analysis, background investigation forms, and police officer rating scales. Nine personality characteristics (PC's) were selected for study, including assertiveness, initiative, courage, team work, emotional maturity/self control, and others. Two large police groups in Florida were used as raters for the project, and the tasks used for PC rating were selected from a State occupational program booklet. Individual surveys were prepared and distributed to municipal police officers. Results for the Florida Highway Patrol and for selected police samples are presented. They indicate that emotional maturity, lack of courage, lack of judgment, and lack of teamwork appreciably influence the performance of specific tasks. Three references and tables are included. Appendixes present summary data for each personality characteristic, a complete list of tasks by PC, and related data.