DURHAM (NC) URBAN OBSERVATORY REPORT - ASSISTANCE IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION DECISIONS - THE PUBLIC SAFETY PROGRAM - PART 1

• NCJ Number: 45515
• Author(s): J S ROTHENBERG; B B BALFOUR
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 35 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Housing and Urban Development
• Corporate Author: Durham Urban Observatory; North Carolina Central University
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE POSSIBILITY OF CREATING A COMPUTERIZED DATA BASE OF CURRENTLY COLLECTED BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON POLICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS TO CORRELATE WITH EXISTING PERFORMANCE MEASURES IS EXAMINED.

Abstract

THE UNIVERSE OF INFORMATION COMPRISING THE DATA SET CONSISTED OF THE BACKGROUND CHARACTERISTICS AND PERFORMANCE MEASURES OF THE 256 SWORN MEMBERS OF THE DURHAM DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AS OF FEBRUARY 1976. DATA WAS COLLECTED MANUALLY FROM THE PERSONNEL FILES OF THE INDIVIDUAL OFFICERS. THE BACKGROUND CHARACTERISTICS EXAMINED INCLUDED PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES, FAMILY BACKGROUND, PLACES OF RESIDENCE, OCCUPATIONAL EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION, AND TEST SCORES ON REQUIRED CITY AND STATE EXAMS. PERFORMANCE MEASURE DATA WAS TAKEN FROM THE STANDARD CITY EVALUATION FORM WHICH RATES OFFICERS ON FIVE 'FACTORS': WORK QUALITY, WORK QUANTITY, DEPENDABILITY, ATTITUDE, AND ATTENDANCE AND PUNCTUALITY. AT THE TIME OF THE STUDY, MOST OFFICERS HAD BEEN RATED ONCE ON THIS EVALUATION FORM. ALSO, EACH OFFICER'S FILE WAS SEARCHED, AND THE LETTERS OF COMMENDATION OR COMPLAINT RECORDED. COMPARISONS OF BACKGROUND AND PERFORMANCE DATA INDICATED NO STRONG CORRELATIONS BETWEEN ANY OF THE BACKGROUND VARIABLES AND THE EVALUATION CRITERIA. THE GENERAL LACK OF IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION AS AN INDEPENDENT VARIABLE IN INFLUENCING PERFORMANCE IS NOTED AS SURPRISING, ALTHOUGH EDUCATION DID SEEM TO INFLUENCE THE NUMBER OF SICK DAYS OR LEAVE WITHOUT PAY, WITH MORE EDUCATED OFFICERS TAKING FEWER DAYS OFF. TABULAR DATA ILLUSTRATE THE FINDINGS. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT A MODIFIED POLICE DEPARTMENT EVALUATION INSTRUMENT BE CONSTRUCTED WITH NEW OBJECTIVE MEASURES OF PERFORMANCE SUCH AS DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS, VIOLATIONS OF DEPARTMENTAL PROCEDURES, AND FIREARM DISCHARGES. THE COLLECTION OF DATA ON INTERMEDIATE VARIABLES SUCH AS TRAINING SCORES AND MEASURES OF EARLY PERFORMANCE TO DETERMINE IF THESE VARIABLES CORRELATE ANY BETTER WITH PERFORMANCE MEASURES IN THE LATER STAGES OF AN OFFICER'S CAREER IS ADVISED. IT IS FURTHER SUGGESTED THAT THE DATA BASE TURNED OVER TO THE DEPARTMENT BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE ANY ADDITIONAL OR NEW PERFORMANCE MEASURES TO CREATE A TOTAL COMPUTER-BASED SYSTEM, WITH ALL PERFORMANCE MEASURES INCORPORATED INTO A SINGLE INDEX. THE APPENDIXES CONTAIN EVALUATION FORMS AND A DATA CODEBOOK. FOR PART 2 OF THIS REPORT, SEE NCJ-45516, AND SEE NCJ-45517 FOR PART 3. (RCB)