NCJ Number
11514
Journal
Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 1 Issue: 1 Dated: (MARCH 1973) Pages: 21-29
Date Published
1973
Length
9 pages
Annotation
ROLES OF BLACK POLICEMEN AS MEMBERS OF THE POLICE FORCE AND AS PUBLIC SERVANTS AND FIGURES OF AUTHORITY WITHIN BLACK COMMUNITIES IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN.
Abstract
QUESTIONNAIRES AND INTERVIEWS WERE USED TO GATHER DATA FOR THE STUDY FROM A SAMPLE OF POLICEMEN FROM ALL RANKS. THESE POLICEMEN DESCRIBED THEIR WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH BLACK CITIZENS AS BASICALLY GOOD. THEY ASSOCIATED NEGATIVE VIEWS TOWARDS THEM WITH THE GENERALLY NEGATIVE VIEWS TOWARD ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL. ANOTHER PROBLEM EXPRESSED BY MANY OF THE OFFICERS INTERVIEWED WAS THE LACK OF EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION CHANNELS BETWEEN POLICE AND BLACK CITIZENS. THE MAJORITY OF THE SUBJECTS DID NOT FEEL THAT BLACK POLICEMEN HAVE PROBLEMS GAINING RAPPORT WITH BLACK PEOPLE. THE MAJOR NEED EMPHASIZED WAS FOR FAIR AND EQUAL TREATMENT OF ALL CITIZENS. THEY ALSO WERE CONCERNED ABOUT INCREASING THE NUMBER OF BLACK POLICEMEN IN BLACK COMMUNITIES AND INTEGRATING ALL PRECINCTS BASED ON THE VARYING NEEDS OF DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES. THE PREDOMINANT FEELING WAS THAT THERE IS NOW GREATER EQUALITY AND FAIRNESS IN ADVANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES THAN THERE HAD BEEN IN THE PAST.