NCJ Number
67199
Date Published
1976
Length
72 pages
Annotation
THE INFLUENCE OF COLLEGE EDUCATION ON THE JOB PERFORMANCE OF POLICE OFFICERS IS EXPLORED IN THIS STATISTICAL ANALYSIS.
Abstract
THE TEST POPULATION CONSISTED OF 150 POLICE OFFICERS OF THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT WHO HAD BEEN HIRED IN 1965 AND 117 OF WHOM WERE STILL ON ACTIVE DUTY IN 1975. EDUCATION LEVELS OF THE GROUP WERE DIVIDED INTO THE CATEGORIES (1) NO COLLEGE, (2) TWO YEARS OF COLLEGE, AND (3) COLLEGE GRADUATE. THESE EDUCATIONAL LEVELS WERE WERE COMPARED TO THE PERFORMANCE VARIABLES OF POLICE ACADEMY PERFORMANCE, DISCIPLINARY HISTORY, ABSENTEEISM, TERMINATIONS, AND CAREER ADVANCEMENT. IN THE CORRELATION OF ACADEMY PERFORMANCE TO EDUCATION, 46 PERCENT OF THOSE WITH COLLEGE FELL WITHIN THE UPPER 25 PERCENT AND 10 PERCENT CATEGORIES OF THEIR CLASS COMPARED TO 24 PERCENT OF THOSE WITHOUT COLLEGE. THE DISCIPLINARY HISTORY CORRELATION REVEALED THAT THE SUBJECTS WITH A 4-YEAR COLLEGE DEGREE RECEIVED FEWER COMPLAINTS THAN THE 2-YEAR OR NO COLLEGE LEVEL SUBJECTS. THE EDUCATION-ABSENTEEISM CORRELATION INDICATED THAT THERE IS AN INVERSE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE COLLEGE LEVEL OF THE SUBJECT AND THE NUMBER OF SICK AND INJURED DAYS ON DUTY HE WILL USE. THE EDUCATION-TERMINATION CORRELATION SHOWS THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE TERMINATED HAD NO COLLEGE. THE EDUCATION-CAREER ADVANCEMENT CORRELATION SHOWED THAT THE HIGHER THE COLLEGE LEVEL, THE HIGHER THE PERCENTAGE OF PROMOTIONS. ON THE BASIS OF THESE FINDINGS, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE PUSH FOR HIGHER EDUCATION AMONG POLICE OFFICERS CONTINUE. THE STUDY INCLUDES A SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY OF NINE ENTRIES AND EXTENSIVE STATISTICAL CHARTS. THE EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND PAY GRADES OF THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT ARE APPENDED. (SAJ)