NCJ Number
44658
Date Published
1977
Length
27 pages
Annotation
THE DEVELOPMENT OF DIFFERENT CAREER STYLES WITHIN THE ENGLISH POLICE SERVICE IS EXAMINED IN A STUDY CONCERNED WITH THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND POLICE BEHAVIOR.
Abstract
DATA WERE GATHERED DURING A 9-MONTH OBSERVATION OF DAY-TO-DAY POLICE OPERATIONS IN LONDON. INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED WITH POLICE OFFICERS AS THEY WALKED THEIR BEATS, PATROLLED IN AUTOMOBILES, AND WORKED AT ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES. ON THE BASIS OF HIS STYLE OF POLICING, DEFINITION OF HIS WORK AND EXPRESSED VALUES EACH OFFICER WAS ASSIGNED ONE OF THREE CAREER-STYLE LABELS: STREET COP (THOSE WHO VIEW POLICING AS A SECURE WORK ENVIRONMENT AND ARE PRIMARILY CONCERNED WITH THE WELL-BEING OF THEIR FAMILIES); ACTION SEEKER (THOSE PRIMARILY INTERESTED IN EXCITING WORK AND IN ESCAPE FROM BOREDOM AND CONFINEMENT EXPERIENCED IN OTHER JOBS); AND MIDDLE-CLASS MOBILE (THOSE INTERESTED IN ACHIEVING SOCIAL POSITION IN JOB THEY CONSIDER A PROFESSION). DIFFERENCES AMONG THE CAREER STYLES ARE DISCUSSED RELATIVE TO THE OFFICERS' ATTITUDES TOWARD INVOLVEMENT WITH YOUNG WOMEN WHO SEEK THEIR ATTENTION (THE PRACTICE OF 'RACING'); OFF-DUTY FRIENDSHIP PATTERNS; CRITERIA BY WHICH THE OFFICERS MEASURE PERFORMANCE IN THE POLICE ROLE; ATTITUDES TOWARD TRANSFER; AND ATTITUDES TOWARD UNIVERSITY-TRAINED RECRUITS. CAREER STYLES APPEAR TO OPERATE AS CONTEXTUAL DETERMINANTS OF POLICE BEHAVIOR IN MANY WAYS. THE POSSIBILITY THAT CYNICISM AMONG POLICE MAY REFLECT THE DEFEATED CAREER ASPIRATIONS OF MIDDLE-CLASS MOBILES WHO ARE UNABLE TO MOVE UP THROUGH THE RANK STRUCTURE IS RAISED. FURTHER STUDY OF THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN RANK AND CAREER-STYLE VALUES IS SUGGESTED. SUPPORTING DATA AND NOTES ARE INCLUDED.