NCJ Number
90018
Journal
Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 11 Issue: 2 Dated: (June 1983) Pages: 175-184
Date Published
1983
Length
10 pages
Annotation
Police officers' role perceptions expressed traditional crimefighter imagery but in the context of a liberalized and professionalized Banton-like view of police as peacekeepers, and there was little intradepartmental role conflict although some between the police department and external constituencies.
Abstract
This study examined conceptions of the content of police role held by a sample of police officers from law enforcement agencies in different parts of the United States. It further describes the general patterns of those conceptions and identifies any conflict in the police role set. A total of 1,475 questionnaires was returned, a response rate of about 60 percent. Results indicated a bias toward the traditional crimefighter imagery of the police role; however, there is a minority sentiment supportive of a more service-oriented role for the police. An emphasis on 'professionalization' appears to be associated with newer service and preventive (peacekeeping) concepts of the police that deemphasizes the punitive role. Each of the indicators of role conflict points to some degree of police role conflict. Conflict within the police community itself, however, appears to be substantially less than that between the police community and its external environment composed of citizens and other criminal justice personnel. 'We-they' sentiments are a likely correlate of this conflict, as officers perceive the world outside the department as obstructing their values and role preferences. Tabular data and 15 references are provided.