NCJ Number
8981
Date Published
1972
Length
0 pages
Annotation
BACKGROUND CHARACTERISTICS OF A LARGE GROUP OF NEW YORK CITY POLICE OFFICERS WERE COMPARED WITH MEASURES OF THEIR PERFORMANCE.
Abstract
THE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY WAS TO DETERMINE THE TYPE OF CANDIDATE LIKELY TO DISPLAY SPECIFIC PATTERNS OF JOB BEHAVIOR. EMPIRICAL DATA ON BACKGROUND AND PERFORMANCE WAS UTILIZED, THE TYPE COMMONLY MAINTAINED IN PERSONNEL FILES BY POLICE DEPARTMENTS. THE DATA SHOWED THAT THE BEST PREDICTORS OF LATER PERFORMANCE WERE EMPLOYMENT AND MILITARY DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS, REPEATED APPEARANCES IN CIVIL COURT, EDUCATION, RECRUIT TRAINING SCORES, AND RATINGS DURING THE PROBATIONARY PERIOD. SEVERAL FACTORS WHICH ARE COMMONLY THOUGHT TO BE IMPORTANT PREDICTIVE INDICATORS WERE NOT FOUND TO BE RELATED TO AN EFFICIENT POLICE CAREER - THE CIVIL SERVICE EXAM SCORE, I. Q., ARREST FOR PETTY CRIME, MILITARY COMMENDATIONS, ASPECTS OF EARLY FAMILY RESPONSIBILITY, AND REPORTED HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDER. THE AUTHOR ALSO INVESTIGATED THE BACKGROUNDS AND CAREERS OF SEVERAL INTERESTING POLICE SUBGROUPS SUCH AS BLACK OFFICERS, DETECTIVES, AND COLLEGE - EDUCATED MEN, AND THEIR JOB HISTORIES ARE ANALYZED SEPARATELY. SPECIFIC SUGGESTIONS WERE OFFERED TO THE NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR IMPROVED RECRUIT SCREENING AND SELECTION PROCEDURES, DUTY ASSIGNMENTS, AND TRAINING. THIS DOCUMENT PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE, IN-DEPTH ANALYZATION OF THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY, BUT IF THE READER IS INTERESTED IN A MORE CONCISE HANDLING OF THE PROJECT HE SHOULD REFER TO THE SUMMARY REPORT - NCJ-007425. (SNI ABSTRACT MODIFIED)