NCJ Number
35125
Date Published
1976
Length
233 pages
Annotation
AN EMPIRICAL STUDY, BASED ON ANALYSES OF IN-DEPTH INTERVIEWS WITH 42 WHITE NEW YORK CITY OFFICERS, OF THEIR ATTITUDES TOWARD THEIR WORK, THEIR BLACK COLLEAGUES, THE POLITICAL AND LEGAL SYSTEM, AND SOCIETY IN GENERAL.
Abstract
THE CONCLUSION DRAWN HERE IS THAT WHITE POLICE OFFICERS SEE THEMSELVES AS MEMBERS OF A BELEAGUERED MINORITY GROUP THAT IS VICTIMIZED AND BETRAYED BY THE DEPARTMENT, THE PUBLIC, CO-WORKERS, THE PRESS, THE COURTS, AND THE PATROLMAN'S BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION. THUS, THE POLICE OFFICER BECOMES RESENTFUL AND DEFENSIVE, AFRAID TO DO HIS JOB, AND UNWILLING TO TAKE RISKS. THE BOOK SETS FORTH DATA SHOWING HOW WHITE POLICEMEN REACTED TO THE KNAPP DISCLOSURES OF POLICE CORRUPTION, THE REFORMS OF THE LINDSAY ADMINISTRATION, AND INTERNAL CHANGES BROUGHT TO THE DEPARTMENT. ALSO INCLUDED ARE DATA ON WHITE POLICE EVALUATIONS OF MINORITY RECRUITING PROGRAMS BY THE DEPARTMENT TO ATTRACT BLACK AND PUERTO RICAN POPULATIONS, AND HOW WHITE POLICE EVALUATE THE STANDARDS USED TO INCREASE MINORITY REPRESENTATION. THE CONCLUDING CHAPTER SUMMARIZES PRECEDING MATERIAL AND INTERPRETS ITS SIGNIFICANCE IN TERMS OF ISSUES IN AMERICAN SOCIETY THAT EXTEND BEYOND POLICE INSTITUTIONS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)