Attitudes of Assaulted Police Officers and Their Policy Implications

• NCJ Number: 123850
• Journal: Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 17 Issue: 1 Dated: (March 1990) Pages: 44-48
• Author(s): H L McMurray
• Date Published: 1990
• Length: 5 pages
• Grant Number(s): 87-IJ-CX-0011
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Justice (NIJ); US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This research project assessed the nature of police postassault reactions and the buffering effect of personal and work-related social supports.

Abstract

The target population included sworn police personnel who were employed during 1986 by the Washington, D.C., or Newark, N.J., police departments. Of 238 questionnaires sent, 62 or 39 percent were returned. Almost all respondents indicated that assaults against police had increased over the past year. In addition, 78 percent felt that assaults against police represented a serious problem within the department. While police administrators appeared more sensitive to the assault issue, officers generally perceived support services within their department as inadequate. When respondents were asked to rank events that disturbed them most following an assault, 74 percent identified not knowing the assault was coming. Seventy-one percent indicated that department policies relative to assault were clear. Postassault attitudes are examined in terms of alienation, work-related support, job satisfaction, and law enforcement. Policy implications of the research findings are discussed. 6 references.