NCJ Number
192492
Journal
Police Quarterly Volume: 4 Issue: 4 Dated: December 2001 Pages: 449-468
Date Published
December 2001
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This study examined the attitudes of 581 residents of Midland and Odessa, Texas, regarding their satisfaction with 14 police attributes and the importance of these attributes.
Abstract
Descriptive findings showed that citizens were generally satisfied with police performance but still rated the importance of attributes higher than the satisfaction. The satisfaction-importance graph revealed that the professional conduct factor (professional knowledge, professional conduct, honesty, quality of service, and fairness) received relatively higher satisfaction and importance scores compared to the friendliness factor (friendliness, putting one at ease, concern, politeness, and helpfulness) and the crime control/prevention factor (level of police protection, investigative skill, ability to fight crime, and ability to prevent crime). The friendliness factor received relatively moderate satisfaction scores, as did the crime control/prevention factor, but was considered the least important among the three factors. Finally, the findings showed the attribute that needed the most improvement was the ability to prevent crime. Figures, table, notes, references