NCJ Number
120113
Journal
Canadian Police College Journal Volume: 13 Issue: 3 Dated: (1989) Pages: 182-210
Date Published
1989
Length
29 pages
Annotation
Interviews with 41 police personnel of all ranks were conducted in three police forces in Central and Eastern Canada to determine their perceptions of the college-educated constable and the functions of police management.
Abstract
Whether recruitment, professional development, or job placement was at issue, interviewees had no clear perception of higher education's importance to the force. Police agencies should provide statements on the importance of, support for, and incentives for participation in higher education. Interviewees viewed their organizations as quasi-military structures. The educated constable wanted more autonomy, participatory decisionmaking, and management support than is generally provided under a quasi-military structure. Police agencies should modify their structures to encourage participation in decisionmaking, the development of personal career interests, and the use of individuals' skills and expertise. Management with a decentralized, democratic, humanistic philosophy may be the most appropriate type to meet the needs of educated constables. The future may need new types of police managers with different skills, suggesting the need for more education and a different type of management training. 62 references.