NCJ Number
51170
Date Published
1973
Length
190 pages
Annotation
POLICE AND CITIZENRY OF PITTSBURGH, PA., WERE SURVEYED TO ASSESS THE STATE OF POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS. THIS REPORT CONSIDERS POLICE DISCIPLINE, PERSONNEL SELECTION, MANPOWER, WAGES, POLICE-COMMUNITY POLICY, AND PROBLEMS.
Abstract
THE CITIZEN OPINION POLL CONDUCTED WITH 52 RESIDENTS OF SOCIOECONOMICALLY DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS WAS DESIGNED TO ELICIT RESPONDENTS' ATTITUDES TOWARD POLICE AND TO COLLECT INFORMATION ON ANY ENCOUNTERS RESPONDENTS MAY HAVE HAD WITH POLICE. FINDINGS INDICATED THAT THE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE POLICE AND THE PUBLIC ARE SIMILAR TO THE POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS IN OTHER MAJOR CITIES, THAT THE MOST SIGNIFICANT FACTOR IN SHAPING AN INDIVIDUAL'S ATTITUDE TOWARD POLICE IS POLICE CONTACT, AND THAT BLACKS AND YOUNG PERSONS CONSISTENTLY RATE POLICE MORE CRITICALLY THAN OTHER GROUPS. THERE IS DISSATISFACTION WITH THE PRESENT CITIZEN COMPLAINT SYSTEM AND EVIDENCE OF IGNORANCE OF POLICE OPERATIONS AND PROCEDURES. THE TWO MOST COMMON SUGGESTIONS ARE TO INCREASE PERSONAL CONTACT BETWEEN OFFICERS AND CITIZENS AND TO HIRE MORE OFFICERS. A QUESTIONNAIRE WAS SUBMITTED TO POLICE OFFICERS ELICITING RESPONSES ON POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND PROBLEMS AND DATA ON OFFICERS' RANK, YEARS OF SERVICE, AND CHARACTERISTICS. THE 105 RESPONSES INDICATED THAT POLICE OFFICERS BELIEVE THAT NEWS MEDIA DO NOT REPRESENT POLICE MATTERS ACCURATELY, THAT LACK OF CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT MAKES POLICE WORK DIFFICULT, AND THAT POLICE PAY AND BENEFITS ARE INADEQUATE. THEY REPORT A DISLIKE FOR HANDLING DOMESTIC CALLS DUE TO LACK OF TRAINING AND A SATISFACTION WITH TRIAL BOARD PROCEDURES. POLICE RESPONDENTS PREFER AN INCREASE IN THE USE OF FOOT PATROL OFFICERS AND REPORT THAT A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF TIME IS SPENT ON DUTIES NOT RELATED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT. THE REPORT CONTAINS AN ANALYSIS OF CITIZEN COMPLAINTS, A DESCRIPTION OF CITIZEN COMPLAINT AND TRIAL BOARD PROCEDURES, AND A DISCUSSION OF THE OFFICER SELECTION PROCESS REGARDING RECRUITMENT, SELECTION, PRESERVICE TRAINING, OTHER TRAINING, PROBATION, EVALUATION, AND PROMOTION. A DISCUSSION OF POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS PROBLEMS AND POLICIES IS INCLUDED, AND THE FINAL SECTION CONTAINS RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON SURVEY DATA. APPENDIXES INCLUDE THE SURVEY INSTRUMENTS AND DATA ON RESPONSES AND ANALYSIS. REFERENES ARE PROVIDED. (DAG)