NCJ Number
100160
Date Published
1985
Length
86 pages
Annotation
The Government Accounting Office conducted a study to evaluate compensation and staffing levels of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) police at National and Dulles Airports and to determine if lower pay was contributing to police recruitment and retention problems.
Abstract
Comparisons with other metropolitan Washington police forces indicate that FAA officers were paid less than both Federal ($2,900-$5,000 more) and non-Federal ($4,000-$6,100 more) police. Between January 1981 and April 1985, 144 police officers left the FAA force and 86 were hired. Vacancy and turnover rates have generally been higher for Dulles and National police than for those at other airports and for other Federal and non-Federal police forces. About 57 percent of former FAA police officers cited low pay among reasons for leaving. Other factors included working conditions, advancement opportunities, promotion processes, and communications problems. In addition, about 98 percent of current FAA officers felt morale was low or very low. As of April 30, 1985, the vacancy rate for the force was 25 percent. Results indicate that low pay is an important factor in recruitment and retention problems among FAA police officers. Appended tabular data.