NCJ Number
81236
Date Published
Unknown
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This study presents data concerning the characteristics of 'good' police officers.
Abstract
Four groups of police (of mixed ethnic and racial composition) were studied. They were cadets in the final stages of training and veterans who had returned to the police academy for refresher courses. The ages of the men in the total sample ranged from 21 to 31 years. All subjects were given the California Psychological Inventory (Gough, 1957), and staff members at the academy rated each cadet for 'overall suitability for police work.' Veteran police officers received a series of four evaluations by their field commanders based on their actual job performance. Product moment correlations were computed between the 18 standard scales of the California Psychological Inventory, an empathy scale (Hogan, 1969), and criterion scores for each sample. The study's results are in line with those found in earlier studies. The picture of the good police officer which emerges from these analyses differs from the popular stereotype of the average officer. The dominant theme is the importance for effective police work of practical, functional intelligence in combination with sociability and self-assurance. Further research is needed. Supplementary information and 15 references are included.