NCJ Number
87543
Date Published
1982
Length
305 pages
Annotation
This study indicates that having a college education does make a significant difference in police performance in 10 of the 11 measures of police performance chosen and contributes to superior performance in 8 of the 11 areas measured.
Abstract
This study involved police officers in two southeastern departments (a sample of 603 in one department and a population of 137 officers in the other department). The subjects were divided into the following educational groupings: (1) high school education (its equivalent or less), (2) some college (less than a 2-year degree), (3) a 2-year college degree or its equivalent (but less than a 4-year degree), and (4) a 4-year degree or more. Using a stepwise multiple regression method, various background variables (e.g., race, rank, educational level, etc.) were juxtaposed with a number of work performance variables. College education was found to make a difference in 10 of the 11 dependent variables used: (1) awards and commendations, (2) suspensions, (3) reprimands, (4) complaints to the internal affairs department, (5) evaluations, (6) sick leave, (7) promotional test scores, (8) felony arrests, (9) felony arrest filing rates, and (10) misdemeanor arrests. Only in the case of the variable 'discharge of firearms' does education not make a difference in the work performance. Further, only in the areas of firearms discharge, suspensions, and complaints to the internal affairs department does college education not contribute to superior performance compared to officers with only a high school education. Implications of the findings are discussed, and suggestions are offered for future research. Tabular data and 40 references are provided.