NCJ Number
55353
Journal
Police Review Volume: 85 Issue: 4483 Dated: (DECEMBER 18, 1978) Pages: 1844-1846,1848-1850
Date Published
1978
Length
6 pages
Annotation
PROFILES ARE DRAWN OF SIX TYPES OF POLICE OFFICERS, THEIR ATTITUDES TOWARD THEIR WORK, TOWARD THE POLICE FEDERATION, AND TOWARDS THEIR PRIVATE LIFE. THIS, THE FIRST OF TWO ARTICLES, EXAMINES THREE OF THE TYPES.
Abstract
THE SIX TYPES OF ENGLISH POLICE OFFICER IDENTIFIED ARE 'THE BOBBY,' 'THE UNIFORM-CARRIER,' 'THE NEW CENTURION,' 'THE SOCIAL WORKER,' THE 'PROFESSIONAL,' AND THE 'FEDERATION ACTIVIST.' THIS ARTICLE PROFILES THE FIRST THREE. THE CASE STUDIES CONTAIN QUOTATIONS FROM ACTUAL POLICE OFFICERS INTERWOVEN WITH NARRATIVE. THE OLD-FASHIONED 'BOBBY' IS GENERALLY OLDER THAN THE OTHERS ON THE FORCE AND SEES HIS JOB AS PRIMARILY PEACE-KEEPING. HE ENJOYS UNIFORMED PATROL WORK, IS NOT AMBITIOUS, AND HAS A SENSE OF USEFULNESS. HE FEELS THAT THE POLICE FEDERATION REPRESENTS POLICE OFFICERS ADEQUATELY. THE 'UNIFORM CARRIER' IS THE OFFICER WITH LITTLE INTEREST IN HIS JOB, WHO CARES ABOUT HIS PAY CHECK, BUT NOT MUCH MORE. HE IS NEGATIVE ABOUT THE FORCE, ABOUT THE PUBLIC IN GENERAL, AND ABOUT POLICE WORK. HE FEELS POLICE OFFICERS MUST STICK TOGETHER BECAUSE NOBODY ELSE UNDERSTANDS THEM, BUT THE POLICE FEDERATION SERVES ONLY AS A CONTROL DEVICE TO PREVENT THE POLICE FROM HAVING EFFECTIVE REPRESENTATION. THE 'NEW CENTURION,' USUALLY A DETECTIVE, IS DEVOTED TO ACTION-PACKED CRIME-FIGHTING. HE REGARDS PATROL OFFICERS, THE PUBLIC, AND LAWBREAKERS ALIKE WITH A MIXTURE OF SUSPICION AND HOSTILITY. HIS FAVORITE PASTIME IS RELIVING DIFFICULT-TO-SOLVE CASES AND MOMENTS OF DRAMA, AND HE BELIEVES THAT THE COURTS ARE UNDERENFORCING THE LAW IN SERIOUS CASES AND FELLOW POLICE OFFICERS ARE NOT TRULY UNDERSTANDING THE DANGER THE 'REAL CRIME FIGHTER' FACES. DESPITE HIS GENERAL OPPOSITION TO TRADE UNIONS, THE CENTURION FEELS THAT THE FEDERATION, OR ANY OTHER REPRESENTATIVE BODY, MUST HAVE MUCH MORE POWER TO REPRESENT RANK-AND-FILE OFFICERS AND ALLEVIATE THEIR TREATMENT AS A PARIAH GROUP. THE TONE OF THE ARTICLE IS HUMOROUS, BUT UNDERNEATH IT IS A STUDY IN PERSONALITY TYPES AND BEHAVIOR TYPOLOGIES. (GLR)