NCJ Number
66135
Date Published
1974
Length
151 pages
Annotation
BASED ON QUESTIONNAIRES COMPLETED BY 500 STATE AND LOCAL POLICE OFFICIALS, THIS DISSERTATION PRESENTS A PROFILE OF AMERICAN POLICE LEADERSHIP WHICH INCLUDES DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS, CAREER INFORMATION, AND ATTITUDES TOWARD A 1967 PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE LAW ENFORCEMENT.
Abstract
THIS PROJECT FIRST REVIEWED THEORIES ON LEADERSHIP, STUDIES CRITICIZING POLICE LEADERSHIP, AND SURVEYS OF POLICE AND GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVES. FOLLOWING A PILOT STUDY, THE FINAL SURVEY INSTRUMENT FOCUSED ON POLICE PERCEPTIONS OF FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT POLICIES. DATA WERE ALSO COLLECTED ON RESPONDENTS' AGENCIES AND SALARIES. A PSYCHOLOGICAL TEST, THE CHRISTIE'S TRADITIONAL-MORALISM SCALE, WAS INCLUDED. QUESTIONNAIRES WERE DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES THROUGH PERSONAL CONTACTS AND PROFESSIONAL MEETINGS. THE 500 RESPONSES REPRESENTED A WIDE RANGE OF AGENCY TYPES, SIZES, AND GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS. USING PROGRAMS FROM THE STATISTICAL PACKAGE FOR THE SOCIAL SCIENCES, THE DATA WERE ANALYZED BY COMPUTER. THE STUDY CONCLUDED THAT POLICE LEADERS GENERALLY DO NOT ENDORSE THE PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATIONS AND DO NOT APPROVE OF MOST SURVEY ITEMS WHICH PREDICTED FUTURE INNOVATIONS IN POLICE OPERATIONS. APPROVAL IN BOTH SITUATIONS WAS CORRELATED WITH HIGHER EDUCATIONAL LEVELS, WHEREAS THE AVERAGE EDUCATION FOR POLICE RESPONDENTS WAS 2 YEARS OF COLLEGE. THESE FINDINGS HAVE FAR-REACHING IMPLICATIONS FOR POLICYMAKERS WHO CONTINUE TO RECOMMEND CHANGES IN LAW ENFORCEMENT METHODS WITHOUT CONSIDERING THE ATTITUDES OF THE POLICE. STATISTICAL TABLES, APPROXIMATELY 100 REFERENCES, AND THE SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE ARE INCLUDED.