LAW ENFORCER, PEACE KEEPER, SERVICER - ROLE ALTERNATIVES FOR POLICEMEN

• NCJ Number: 50842
• Journal: Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 6 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1978) Pages: 324-335
• Author(s): R SCHAEFER
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 12 pages
• Corporate Author: International Assoc of Chiefs of Police
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: French; English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS STUDY ATTEMPTS TO EXPAND ROLE TYPOLOGIES OF PATROL OFFICERS GENERATED BY A PREVIOUS STUDY AND EXAMINES THE EFFECT OF EACH ROLE ALTERNATIVE ON ACTUAL BEHAVIOR.

Abstract

ROLE CONFLICTS WHICH FACE THE POLICE OFFICER IN THE FIELD ARE DISCUSSED IN DETAIL. SOCIETY SEES THE OFFICER AS A LAW ENFORCER, YET THE MAJOR PORTION OF AN OFFICER'S TIME IS SPENT IN NONLAW ENFORCEMENT DUTIES. THREE TYPOLOGIES DEVELOPED IN A PREVIOUS STUDY, LAW ENFORCER, PEACE KEEPER, AND SERVICE PROVIDER, ARE EXPLAINED. THE LAW ENFORCER ROLE LIMITS ITSELF TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, PREFERRING TO SEE SERVICE CALLS AND SOCIAL SERVICE FUNCTIONS LEFT TO OTHER AGENCIES. THE SERVICER ORIENTATION INCLUDES TAKING CARE OF PROBLEMS FOR PEOPLE WHO CANNOT OR WILL NOT TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES. PETTY PROBLEMS IN THIS CONTEXT ARE NOT RESENTED, SINCE THESE OFFICERS VIEW THEIR ROLE PRIMARILY AS HELPING THE PUBLIC IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE. THE PEACE KEEPER SEES A BALANCE BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SERVICE DUTIES AS A PROPER DESCRIPTION OF A POLICE OFFICER'S ROLE. A SURVEY OF 64 POLICE OFFICERS IN A MEDIUM-SIZED CITY IS PRESENTED. IT FOUND 16 OF THE OFFICERS THOUGHT OF THEMSELVES AS LAW ENFORCERS, 16 AS SERVICE PROVIDERS, BUT THE MAJORITY AS PEACE KEEPERS. THE PEACE KEEPING FUNCTION SEEMED TO SOLVE THE ROLE CONFLICT PROBLEM FOR THE MAJORITY OF OFFICERS. THE ROLE SELECTED HAD A SIGNIFICANT EFFECT ON BEHAVIOR AND ATTITUDES. THE LAW ENFORCERS WANTED MORE AUTHORITY, HAD A GREATER KNOWLEDGE OF THE LAW, TENDED TO USE FORCE MORE OFTEN, DISTRUSTED THE PUBLIC MORE, AND WERE MORE IN FAVOR OF LEGAL ACTION. THE SERVICE-ORIENTED OFFICERS WERE AT THE LOW END OF THE SCORING SCALE ON ALL THESE FACTORS, WHILE THE PEACE KEEPERS CLUSTERED IN THE MIDDLE. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT A POLICE OFFICER'S PERCEPTION OF SELF STRONGLY AFFECTS DISCRETIONARY BEHAVIOR. FURTHER RESEARCH IS SUGGESTED. FOOTNOTES CONTAIN REFERENCES. TABLES PRESENT STUDY DATA. (GLR)