NCJ Number
53583
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 45 Issue: 9 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1978) Pages: 42-44
Date Published
1978
Length
3 pages
Annotation
SECURITY, SOCIAL FACTORS, WORKING CONDITIONS, AND INACTIVITY ARE NOTED AS STRESS FACTORS INFLUENCING POLICE PATROL IN RURAL AREAS.
Abstract
RURAL OFFICERS SPECIFICALLY EXPERIENCE AN EXTREME SENSE OF ISOLATION IN THEIR ATTEMPTS TO CONFRONT BOTH DOMESTIC AND CRIMINAL SITUATIONS. ONE OF THE KEY FACTORS UNIQUE TO RURAL POLICE WORK IS THE ABSENCE OF ANONYMITY THAT IS USUALLY MORE AVAILABLE TO URBAN OFFICERS. THERE IS OFTEN NO OPPORTUNITY FOR RURAL OFFICERS TO DEAL WITH THEIR COMMUNITY WITHOUT BEING PERCEIVED AS OFFICERS. DUE TO THE PERSONNEL SELECTION PROCESS, MANY OFFICERS HIRED BY RURAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS ARE 'LOCAL BOYS' WHO HAVE BEEN BORN AND BROUGHT UP IN THE COMMUNITY THEY SERVE. AS A RESULT, THEY HAVE DEVELOPED VARIOUS EXPECTATIONS AND PERCEPTUAL SETS CONCERNING MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. LIKE MANY SMALL BUSINESSES, RURAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS ARE FREQUENTLY IN A POWERLESS POSITION TO CONTROL THEIR WORKING AND FINANCIAL ENVIRONMENT. SALARY LEVELS ARE OFTEN LESS FOR RURAL OFFICERS THAN FOR OFFICERS IN URBAN AREAS. THE POSSIBILITY OF TRAINING IS SEVERELY LIMITED DUE TO A LACK OF FUNDS AND THE INABILITY OF POLICE DEPARTMENTS TO PROVIDE REPLACEMENTS FOR OFFICERS PARTICIPATING IN TRAINING PROGRAMS. IN GENERAL, PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS APPEAR TO BE LIMITED AND THIS SITUATION IS ESPECIALLY ACUTE FOR RURAL AREAS. BOREDOM RESULTING FROM LONG PERIODS OF INACTIVITY IS OFTEN A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO JOB DISSATISFACTION. INACTIVITY ALSO INFLUENCES OFFICER PERCEPTIONS OF THEMSELVES. REEVALUATING THE CONTENT OF POLICE TRAINING CURRICULUMS TO REFLECT ON-THE-JOB SKILLS NEEDED BY RURAL OFFICERS IS RECOMMENDED TO REDUCE STRESS CAUSED BY UNREALISTIC ATTITUDES. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PROVIDED.