NCJ Number
151306
Journal
American Journal of Police Volume: 12 Issue: 3 Dated: (1993) Pages: 115-139
Date Published
1993
Length
25 pages
Annotation
Police attitudes toward their role and the community they serve, as well as the factors associated with these attitudes, were examined by means of a survey of two major police agencies in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.
Abstract
The anonymous questionnaire survey received 761 responses, which represented 55 percent of the distributed questionnaires. The surveys were completed during roll call. The questionnaires contained items regarding attitudes on a variety of issues, as well as demographic questions measuring personal characteristics and police history. Results revealed some relationships between police officer attitudes and demographic characteristics. However, the correlations were weak and the explained variance was low. A positive role orientation was related to other positive attitudes, while a negative role orientation was related to other negative feelings. Police officers who were service oriented were more likely to view the community and the system in favorable terms and less likely to support solidarity and force, while officers oriented toward crime control viewed the community less favorably and were more inclined toward force and protecting and violations of other police officers. Tables, appended attitude scales, and 29 references