NCJ Number
25009
Journal
Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 2 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1974) Pages: 266-278
Date Published
1974
Length
13 pages
Annotation
ALL INVESTIGATION OF HOW SPECIFIC TASK ENVIRONMENTS, TASK DEMANDS, AND ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES IN EACH OF FIVE DIFFERENT UNITS IN A MAJOR URBAN POLICE DEPARTMENT AFFECT THE ATTITUDES AND WORKING PERSONALITY OF THE POLICE.
Abstract
THE RESEARCH EMPLOYED A VARIETY OF METHODS, INCLUDING GENERAL OBSERVATION, INTERVIEWS WITH COMMAND LEVEL PERSONNEL AND WITH SUPERVISORS, CONTROLLED OBSERVATION OF INDIVIDUAL OFFICERS, AND A SMALL NUMBER OF INTERVIEWS WITH THE CITIZENS INVOLVED IN THE OBSERVED ENCOUNTERS. IT WAS RECORDED BY THE RESEARCH OBSERVERS THAT THE ELEMENTS MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED BY THE OFFICERS AS CRITICALLY AFFECTING THEIR WORK WERE COURTS, DANGER, CITIZEN ATTITUDES, BUREAUCRATIC PRESSURES FOR EFFICIENCY AND INITIATIVE, AND BUREAUCRATIC RESTRICTIVE CONSTRAINTS. HOWEVER, THE IMPORTANCE OF EACH OF THESE FACTORS WAS FOUND TO VARY BETWEEN THE FIVE UNITS STUDIED - PATROL, THE TACTICAL FORCE, TRAFFIC, BURGLARY, AND GENERAL ASSIGNMENT. POLICE ATTITUDES ON SUCH TOPICS AS THE POLICE MISSION AND THE CITIZENS THEY SERVE WERE ALSO FOUND TO DIFFER BETWEEN THE UNITS. THE DATA SUGGESTED THAT THE OBSERVED OFFICERS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR UNITS, GENERALLY DEVELOPED AN ATTITUDE OF FRIENDLINESS. HOWEVER, SPECIFIC TASK-RELATED ATTITUDES WERE FOUND TO EMERGE. FOR EXAMPLE, DETECTIVES RESENTED CITIZENS FOR THEIR NON-COOPERATION, WHILE TRAFFIC POLICE VIEWED CITIZENS AS ORDINARY PEOPLE. THE AUTHORS CONCLUDE THAT SPECIFIC POLICE TASKS DO GIVE RISE TO DIFFERING POLICE ATTITUDES, CONCERNS, AND BEHAVIORS.