NCJ Number
211806
Journal
Alaska Justice Forum Volume: 22 Issue: 2 Dated: Summer 2005 Pages: 5-10
Date Published
2005
Length
6 pages
Annotation
In an effort to determine the public's perception of the performance of the Anchorage Police Department (Alaska), the Justice Center at the University of Alaska Anchorage devoted a section of its Anchorage Community Survey, 2005 to residents' evaluation of police performance.
Abstract
The questionnaire assessed the Alaska Police Department (APD) on responding quickly to calls for help or assistance; not using excessive force; being helpful and friendly; treating people fairly; investigating and/or solving crimes; and preventing crime. Respondents were also asked about their level of confidence in the APD and the accessibility of the department. Generally, Anchorage residents were supportive of the job the APD was doing in the measured areas; however, residents' evaluation of the police varied significantly according to respondents' demographic and social characteristics. Retirees were significantly more likely than those in other employment categories to have a positive assessment of police job performance, and respondents with at least a bachelor's degree were more likely than those with less formal education to give a positive evaluation of police performance for four of the six measures: use of force; helpfulness and friendliness; treating people fairly; and crime prevention. Further, respondents who reported being White or Caucasian were significantly more likely than non-Whites to rate the police positively for five of the six performance dimensions; however, being of Hispanic background was not a significant predictor of a respondent's evaluation. Men offered more negative evaluations of police for certain measures, and respondents aged 65 and older were more likely to offer positive evaluations than younger respondents. The findings suggest constituencies that need more attention in improving police performance for their benefit. 4 tables