NCJ Number
63733
Date Published
1979
Length
16 pages
Annotation
LOCAL AND NATIONAL EVIDENCE CONCERNING ALCOHOLISM AMONG POLICE, ISSUES RELEVANT TO HANDLING COPS WHO ARE PROBLEM DRINKERS, AND INFORMATION ABOUT WHO DRINKING POLICE OFFICERS ARE, AND WHY AND WHAT THEY DRINK, ARE STUDIED.
Abstract
THE STUDY DESIGN WAS THREE-FOLD. A PRELIMINARY PHASE WAS TO SEARCH BACKGROUND REFERENCE MATERIAL TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT POLICE HAD BEEN STUDIED CONCERNING ALCOHOL ABUSE. THE SECOND PHASE INVOLVED WRITING DIRECTLY TO POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN LARGE CITIES FOR INFORMATION OR UNPUBLISHED REPORTS ON THE ISSUE. (ONLY 3 TO 20 AGENCIES CONTACTED WERE ABLE TO SUPPLY SIGNIFICANT MATERIAL, SO THIS MATERIAL WAS SUPPLEMENTED BY INFORMATION GOTTEN FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE AND THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE). THE FINAL PHASE CONSISTED OF 16 PERSONAL INTERVIEWS WITH POLICE CHIEFS, OFFICERS, AND EX-OFFICERS. THE RESULTS INDICATED THAT ALTHOUGH MUCH RESEARCH HAS BEEN DONE IN THIS AREA, LITTLE EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE HAS BEEN SYSTEMATICALLY COLLECTED AND ANALYZED. THE LITERATURE SEARCH AND INTERVIEWS HAVE SHOWN THAT MOST POLICE DO DRINK MODERATELY (MOSTLY BEER) AND THAT THERE IS AN UNKNOWN PROPORTION OF ALCOHOLIC POLICE. OFFICERS' ATTITUDES OF TOLERANCE TOWARDS POLICE WHO DRINK EXCESSIVELY VARY REMARKABLY. SOME ADMINISTRATORS WANT TO IMPROVE THE ABILITY TO RECOGNIZE AND TREAT THE PROBLEM DRINKERS; OTHERS WOULD IGNORE THE PROBLEM AND IMMEDIATELY DISMISS DRUNKEN COPS WHO COULD NOT BE IGNORED. OVERALL, IT APPEARS THAT FURTHER, EXTENSIVE RESEARCH NEED BE DONE IN THIS FIELD SO THAT A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROBLEM WOULD RESULT IN PROGRAMS TO HELP THE ALCOHOLIC POLICE, THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR EMPLOYERS, AND THE PUBLIC BEFORE FAR MORE SERIOUS PROBLEMS ARISE. THE FIRST STEP IS FOR DEPARTMENTS TO ADMIT THEIR PROBLEMS. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS AND NOTES ARE PROVIDED. (DAG)