NCJ Number
40969
Journal
Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 5 Issue: 1 Dated: (MARCH 1977) Pages: 89-96
Date Published
1977
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THIS ARTICLE DESCRIBES THE DADE COUNTY (FL) PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT'S RESEARCH IN WHICH STATISTICAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN POLICE OFFICERS' PERFORMANCE, BACKGROUND, AND CHARACTERISTICS WERE ANALYZED.
Abstract
THIS PROJECT WAS CONDUCTED UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE POLICE FOUNDATION. ONE FACET OF THE RESEARCH WAS CONCERNED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SENSITIVE, RELEVANT CRITERION MEASURE OF POLICE PERFORMANCE. THE SECOND FACET CENTERED ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A BIOGRAPHICAL DATA FORM TO BE USED IN POLICE OFFICER SELECTION, WHILE THE FINAL ASPECT WAS TO DEVELOP A MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM INCORPORATING ALL PREDICTOR INFORMATION AT TIME OF HIRING, TRAINING ACADEMY PERFORMANCE, AND ALL SUBSEQUENT PERSONNEL-RELATED INFORMATION. THIS DATA WAS APPLIED IN THIS ANALYSIS OF POLICE PERFORMANCE AND EDUCATION. THE STATISTICAL ANALYSES OF THE RECORDS OF 940 OFFICERS INDICATED THAT HIGHER LEVELS OF FORMAL EDUCATION SEEM TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH FEWER INJURIES, FEWER ASSAULTS, FEWER DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS FROM ACCIDENTS, FEWER PREVENTABLE ACCIDENTS, FEWER SICK TIMES PER YEAR, AND FEWER PHYSICAL FORCE ALLEGATIONS. HOWEVER, NO TRAITS SUCH AS JOB KNOWLEDGE, JUDGMENT, DEPENDABILITY, ATTITUDE, DEMEANOR, OR COMMUNICATIONS WERE RELATED TO FORMAL EDUCATION. APPLICATIONS OF THESE FINDINGS TO PREDICTION OF FUTURE PERFORMANCE AT TIME OF HIRE ARE DESCRIBED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)...DMC