NCJ Number
48683
Journal
LIBERAL EDUCATION Volume: 62 Issue: 1 Dated: (MARCH 1976) Pages: 67-74
Date Published
1976
Length
8 pages
Annotation
POLICE DUTIES ARE ANALYZED, SKILLS NEEDED FOR THESE DUTIES ARE LISTED, AND TYPES OF COLLEGE PROGRAMS WHICH WILL BEST TRAIN OFFICERS FOR THEIR DUTIES ARE EXAMINED. A LIST OF EDUCATIONAL CRITERIA IS PRESENTED.
Abstract
CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF, WORK PERTAINING TO CRIME AND CRIMINALS, ALTHOUGH IMPORTANT, IS A RELATIVELY SMALL PART OF OVERALL POLICE ROLE. THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION HAS IDENTIFIED 11 POLICE TASKS, 9 OF WHICH ARE RELATED TO HUMAN RELATIONS, 1 TO DIRECT APPREHENSION OF CRIMINALS, AND 1 TO TRAFFIC FLOW. SEVERAL STUDIES IN MAJOR CITIES HAVE SHOWN THAT POLICE SPEND 20 PERCENT OR LESS OF THEIR TIME ON CRIMINAL MATTERS, 10 PERCENT ON TRAFFIC, 10 PERCENT ON ROUTINE PATROL, 15 PERCENT ON SOCIAL SERVICE, AND THE REST ON ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS. IN 1968 THE INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS CENTER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO IDENTIFIED 20 SKILLS A POLICE OFFICER NEEDS. THESE WERE CLUSTERED MAINLY IN HUMAN RELATIONSHIP AREAS. AT PRESENT LAW ENFORCEMENT CURRICULA FALL INTO THREE CATEGORIES: (1) A TRAINING CURRICULUM WHICH MUST BE SUPPLEMENTED WITH GENERAL LIBERAL ARTS SUBJECTS BEFORE A DEGREE IS GRANTED (2) A PROFESSIONAL CURRICULUM WHICH EMPHASIZES ADMINISTRATIVE SKILLS BUT DOES NOT PREPARE ONE TO BECOME A PATROL OFFICER; AND (3) THE SOCIAL SCIENCE CURRICULUM WHICH FOCUSES ON THE ANALYSIS OF THE INSTITUTIONS OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE BUT IS NOT DESIGNED TO PROVIDE SPECIFIC LAW ENFORCEMENT TOOLS. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEM A POLICE OFFICER FACES IS THE PERPETUAL ROLE CONFLICT INHERENT IN THE JOB. THE OFFICER CONCEIVES OF THE JOB AS PROTECTION OF THE COMMUNITY, YET SOME MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY DISPARAGE POLICE AS HATED SYMBOLS OF THE ESTABLISHMENT. EDUCATION SHOULD NOT ONLY INSTILL SELF-UNDERSTANDING AND AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE SOCIAL FORCES WHICH LEAD TO THE INHERENT ROEL CONFLICT, BUT ALSO SHOULD AID THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PHILOSOPHICAL ATTITUDE. (GLR)