NCJ Number
47549
Journal
Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 6 Issue: 2 Dated: (JUNE 1978) Pages: 168-183
Date Published
1978
Length
16 pages
Annotation
A LITERATURE SEARCH IS DESCRIBED WHICH SHOWS THAT GHETTO RESIDENTS ARE MUCH MORE HOSTILE TOWARD ALL POLICE, BLACK AND WHITE, THAN ARE NONGHETTO RESIDENTS AND THAT RACE RELATIONS WITHIN POLICE DEPARTMENTS ARE GENERALLY TENSE
Abstract
THIS STUDY FOCUSED ON THE EFFECT OF A GROWING NUMBER OF BLACK POLICE OFFICERS BOTH ON GHETTO POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND ON TENSIONS WITHIN POLICE DEPARTMENTS THEMSELVES. THE COMMUNITY SURVEYS ALL INDICATED A GREAT HOSTILITY TOWARD POLICE. A NEW YORK STUDY INDICATED THAT BLACK GHETTO RESIDENTS FELT THAT BLACK POLICEMEN HAD 'SOLD OUT' TO THE WHITE ESTABLISHMENT. BLACK POLICE HAVE RESPONDED IN TWO WAYS -- BY BEING MORE LENIENT WITH BLACK OFFENDERS OR BY BEING PARTICULARLY DILIGENT IN THE PROSECUTION OF OFFENDERS WHICH THEY SEE AS THREATENING TO BLACK COMMUNITIES. POLICE DEPARTMENTS WERE RELUCTANT TO INTEGRATE. VAGUE PERSONAL QUALIFICATIONS, WRITTEN TESTS, AND MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS WERE ALL USED TO RESTRICT THE NUMBERS OF BLACKS ADMITTED TO THE FORCE. A SERIES OF SUPREME COURT DECISIONS WERE REQUIRED TO BREAK THIS PATTERN. BY 1977 A NEW TYPE OF BLACK POLICE OFFICER HAD EMERGED. MORE MILITANT THAN OTHER RECRUITS, THESE OFFICERS HAVE OFTEN BANDED TOGETHER WITH OTHERS IN AFRO-AMERICAN POLICE LEAGUES, SUCH AS THOSE FOUND IN NEW YORK AND CHICAGO. THESE GROUPS ARE DEMANDNG EQUAL OPPORTUNITY IN HIRING AND PROMOTION. A WHITE BACKLASH APPEARS TO BE DEVELOPING, BUT ITS FORM IS NOT YET CLEAR. THE TENSION OF THIS RACIAL SITUATION IS THREATENING THE TRADITIONAL FEELING OF SOLIDARITY AMONG AMERICAN POLICE FORCES. (GLR)