LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY IDENTIFICATION ATTITUDES AMONG TWO CATEGORIES OF POLICE CHIEFS - AN EXPLORATORY INQUIRY

• NCJ Number: 16820
• Journal: Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 2 Issue: 4 Dated: (DECEMBER 1974) Pages: 414-422
• Author(s): R D PURSLEY
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 9 pages
• Corporate Author: International Assoc of Chiefs of Police; Northwestern University
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE TRADITIONALISTS (CHIEFS WHO GENERALLY ROSE UP FROM THE RANKS) WERE COMPARED TO THE NON-TRADITIONALISTS (CHARACTERIZED BY HIGHER EDUCATION AND LATERAL ENTRY).

Abstract

OVER 200 POLICE CHIEFS WERE ASKED TO COMPLETE A LEADERSHIP OPINION QUESTIONNAIRE, A LOCAL - COSMOPOLITAN SCALE, AND A DEMOGRAPHIC QUESTIONNAIRE. AN ANALYSIS OF THE DATA INDICATES THAT THE TRADITIONALIST GROUP EXERCISED A HIGHLY STRUCTURED AND CONTROLLED TYPE OF LEADERSHIP. TRADITIONALISTS ALSO EXHIBITED NON-SUPPORTIVE BEHAVIOR OF SUBORDINATES IN THEIR LACK OF COMMUNICATION AND MINIMAL SHOW OF CONCERN FOR SUBORDINATES' ATTITUDES AND FEELINGS. (THESE STYLES AND ATTITUDES OF LEADERSHIP ARE THOUGHT TO CONTRIBUTE TO POOR MORALE AND JOB DISSATISFACTION AMONG MEN UNDER THEIR COMMAND). ALSO, ATTITUDES EXPRESSED BY TRADITIONALISTS TEND TO INDICATE THAT THEY ARE NOT OVERLY RECEPTIVE TO INFLUENCE FROM EXTERNAL SOURCES OR FROM THEIR SUBORDINATES IN DETERMINING POLICY DECISIONS. THE AUTHOR CONSIDERS THESE TO BE IN DIRECT CONTRAST TO THE ATTITUDES REQUIRED OF A MODERN POLICE ADMINISTRATOR.