NCJ Number
10811
Date Published
1973
Length
22 pages
Annotation
INVESTIGATION OF A PERSON'S VALUE STRUCTURE AS AN IMPORTANT DETERMINANT IN HIS DESIRE TO BECOME A POLICEMAN AND HIS ABILITY TO INTERACT WITH THE CITIZENS HE SERVES.
Abstract
PRESENTED AND DISCUSSED ARE THE RESULTS OF A STUDY ATTEMPTING TO IDENTIFY THE VALUE PATTERNS OF POLICE IN DAYTON, OHIO IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT TO WHICH POLICE VALUES COINCIDE WITH THOSE OF BLACK AND WHITE DATONIANS. A SECOND PURPOSE OF THE STUDY WAS TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE VALUES WHICH POLICE HOLD ARE MORE A FUNCTION OF PREOCCUPATIONAL SOCIALIZATION OR ARE A RESULT OF THE SOCIALIZATION FOSTERED BY MEMBERSHIP IN THIS PARTICULAR OCCUPATIONAL GROUP. RESULTS REVEALED THAT AS A GROUP DAYTON POLICE PATROLMEN SEEM NOT TO BE IN SYMPATHY WITH GROUPS OR ORGANIZATIONS SEEKING CHANGES IN SOCIAL OR CIVIL RIGHTS. PATROLMEN HOLD STRONGLY TO THE VALUES OF HONESTY, OBEDIENCE, COURAGE, AND CAPABILITY. BOTH THE POLICE AND THE PUBLIC FEEL THAT FAMILY SECURITY, HAPPINESS, SELF-RESPECT, FREEDOM, AND WISDOM ARE VALUES THAT ARE PERSONALLY AND SOCIALLY WORTH STRIVING FOR. IT WAS FOUND THAT IN CARRYING OUT THEIR DAY-TO-DAY LIVES THE POLICE AND THE POLICED DO NOT SHARE A COMMON VALUE SYSTEM. THE FINDINGS WERE DISCUSSED AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS FOR RECRUITING AND IN-SERVICE TRAINING WERE POINTED OUT. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)