Crime Fighting, Law Enforcement and Service Provider Role Orientations in Community-Based Police Officers

• NCJ Number: 163018
• Journal: American Journal of Police Volume: 14 Issue: 3/4 Dated: (1995) Pages: 173-195
• Author(s): S B Perrott; D M Taylor
• Date Published: 1995
• Length: 23 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study was designed primarily to investigate the themes of ethnocentrism and role orientation (particularly crime fighting versus service provider) in a sample of Canadian urban police officers.

Abstract

Following from this primary goal was an attempt, by means of a measure of behavioral intention, to assess any differences in the likelihood to arrest members of various ethnic groups. The police department surveyed is located in a medium-sized Canadian city of approximately 115,000 people and is situated within a larger metropolitan area of approximately 300,000 people. The department had worked from the community-based policing (CBP) model for approximately 4 years at the time data were collected. All sworn police constables who could be contacted were asked to complete questionnaires (over 90 percent of the department's complement). Ninety-seven questionnaires were returned, representing a response rate of approximately 55 percent. Approximately 81 percent of the officers were attached to front line duties, and the remaining 19 percent worked in plain clothes or uniform support duties. The questionnaire solicited some demographic information before presenting eight action vignettes. The vignettes described a wide range of activities that are encountered with some frequency by uniformed police officers. The vignettes were designed to be stereotypical of officers' experiences and included features likely to induce consideration of extralegal factors. Vignettes were categorized into three general types of police activities: crime fighting, law enforcement, and service. Eight standard questions followed each vignette and were answered on an 11-point Likert scale. As predicted, study results showed that respondents found their crime-fighting activities to be more socially significant and personally satisfying than other activities, and they perceived the highest degree of support from their peers, superiors, and the public at large in these activities. Officers preferred to view themselves as crime fighters rather than service providers. Results failed to show ethnically based differences across the eight outcome measures, including the proclivity to arrest. 4 tables, 25 references, and appended vignettes