NCJ Number
61422
Date Published
1978
Length
14 pages
Annotation
THE GEORGIA PEACE OFFICER STANDARDS AND TRAINING COUNCIL'S JOB ANALYSIS OF PEACE OFFICERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE IS DESCRIBED; METHODOLOGY, MAJOR FINDINGS, AND CONCLUSIONS ARE EMPHASIZED.
Abstract
A COMPREHENSIVE LITERATURE REVIEW FROM THE INDUSTRIAL, MILITARY, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT FIELDS WAS CONDUCTED. THREE METHODS OF JOB ANALYSIS WERE THEN APPLIED INCLUDING TASK INVENTORY, A POSITION AND ANALYSIS QUESTIONNAIRE, AND A JOB ELEMENT APPROACH. MORE THAN 40 WORK SESSIONS WERE HELD WITH JOB INCUMBENTS AND SUPERVISORS, AND INFORMATION WAS ELICITED FROM NEARLY 1,000 OFFICERS. APPROXIMATELY 16,000 PEACE OFFICERS ARE EMPLOYED BY STATE AGENCIES, LOCAL POLICE AND SHERIFF DEPARTMENTS, AND OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES IN GEORGIA. MUNICIPAL POLICE OFFICERS, COUNTY POLICE OFFICERS, AND SHERIFFS' DEPUTIES WERE THE FOCUS OF THIS STUDY. JOB INCUMBENTS WERE ASKED TO RATE 119 TASKS ACCORDING TO FREQUENCY AND IMPORTANCE OF PERFORMANCE. INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM THE QUESTIONNAIRE ALLOWED IDENTIFICATION OF THE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS NECESSARY FOR THE JOB. THROUGH EMPLOYMENT OF THE JOB ELEMENT APPROACH, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS WERE IDENTIFIED. THE QUESTIONNAIRE REVEALED NO MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCES IN PHYSICAL AND MENTAL REQUIREMENTS OF PEACE OFFICERS ACROSS THE STATE. THE JOB ELEMENT ANALYSIS SHOWED THAT 45 PERCENT OF THE REQUISITE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS ARE ACQUIRED ON THE JOB AND 44 PERCENT ARE GAINED THROUGH BASIC TRAINING. THE JOB OF PEACE OFFICER IN GEORGIA IS DIFFICULT AND COMPLEX, REQUIRING THE PERFORMANCE OF A VARIETY OF TASKS, IN MANY CASES UNDER CONSIDERABLE STRESS AND ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS. ABOVE AVERAGE INTELLIGENCE, DECISIONMAKING ABILITY, NUMERICAL AND VERBAL APTITUDE, AND MANUAL DEXTERITY ARE REQUIRED. ATTENTION SHOULD BE DIRECTED TOWARD THE DEVELOPMENT OF TRAINING PROGRAMS AND MECHANISMS BEYOND THE BASIC COURSE WHICH COMBINE SYSTEMATIC TRAINING WITH PERFORMANCE EVALUATION. (LWM)