NCJ Number
218177
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice: An International Journal Volume: 35 Issue: 2 Dated: March/April 2007 Pages: 137-150
Date Published
March 2007
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This study compared police officer satisfaction with performance evaluation processes among agencies that used more versus less community policing strategies.
Abstract
Results indicated that the main reasons for higher satisfaction scores for police officer appraisal systems among agencies with high levels of community policing implementation were: (1) the provision of more training for raters; (2) the emphasis of the use of performance appraisal for officer development; and (3) evaluation of a broader range of performance criteria. The findings suggest that there were no inherent differences in community policing agencies that led directly to performance evaluation satisfaction. The findings also suggest that administrators should establish an evaluation process that contains a periodic review and revision rather than establishing evaluation processes that are considered semipermanent or static in nature. Data were collected from a nationwide survey of 600 law enforcement agencies regarding their formal officer evaluation procedures between September 2000 and January 2001. The final sample included 339 agencies that had a formal evaluation process and that provided valid responses to survey items. Variables under examination included level of community policing, rater training time, evaluation of community policing activities, officer development, region of the country, organizational purpose for the evaluation process, and overall satisfaction with the performance evaluation process. Statistical analyses were used to evaluate the data. Tables, figures, appendix, notes, references