The study sample consisted of 243 respondents from 12 towns in the Republic of Macedonia, representing all regions. Two- thirds of the respondents were uniformed police officers; the remaining one-third were criminal investigators and police managers. A total of 28.3 percent of respondents considered that security is "the most important" responsibility of the police; and 68.7 percent of the respondents considered that security is "important, but there are other things which are more important." In comparing the police image with other public professions in the country, 60.9 percent of the respondents considered that it is "good," and 12 percent viewed it as "very good"; the rest viewed the police image as comparatively "bad." A total of 56.8 percent of the respondents reported that citizens' opinions about the police is "very important," and they attempt to influence citizens to have a positive view of the police. Another 39.1 percent of the respondents view public opinion as "very important," but they do not believe the police have much influence over public opinion. In deciding how to react to the knowledge that a fellow police officer has taken a bribe, 80.2 percent of respondents will react as they would toward anyone who has committed a crime, and 14.4 percent would talk with their colleague in an effort to change the behavior. This report on study findings notes differences in responses by gender, education, work status, and nationality. 10 figures
Police Opinion About Their Own Organization (From Policing in Central and Eastern Europe: Comparing Firsthand Knowledge With Experience From the West, P 539-547, 1996, Milan Pagon, ed. -- See NCJ-170291)
NCJ Number
170337
Date Published
1996
Length
9 pages
Annotation
As one step in reforming the Macedonian police organization to reflect the values of a democratic society, this study assessed police attitudes toward security responsibilities, police/community relations, and police misconduct (bribes).
Abstract