POLICE PROFESSIONALISM - THE NEED FOR CLARITY (FROM EVALUATING ALTERNATIVE LAW-ENFORCEMENT POLICIES, 1979, BY RALPH BAKER AND FRED A MEYER, JR - SEE NCJ-65735)

• NCJ Number: 65741
• Author(s): R BAKER; F A MEYER; D RUDONI
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 13 pages
• Corporate Author: Lexington Books
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

POLICE PROFESSIONALISM IS POORLY UNDERSTOOD AND DIFFICULT TO ESTABLISH IN AN OCCUPATION NOT TRADITIONALLY PROFESSIONAL, BUT ADVOCATES CLAIM IT WILL IMPROVE PERFORMANCE.

Abstract

ESTABLISHING POLICE PROFESSIONALISM INVOLVES BETTER POLICE EDUCATION AND TRAINING, IMPROVED PAY AND BENEFITS, AND ENHANCED POLICE STATUS. HOWEVER, IT IS NOT CLEAR THAT IMPROVED POLICE SERVICE RESULTS. UNLIKE MEDICINE AND LAW, POLICING AS AN OCCUPATION DID NOT DEVELOP ALONG WITH ITS PRESENT EDUCATION AND TRAINING REQUIREMENTS. POLICE ARE NOT TRADITIONALLY RECOGNIZED PROFESSIONALS, BUT PUBLIC EMPLOYEES, VULNERABLE TO POLITICAL MANIPULATION OR CRITICISM OF HOW THEY USE THEIR DISCRETIONARY POWERS. ENHANCING POLICE PROFESSIONALISM WAS THEREFORE INTENDED TO COUNTERACT POLICE PROBLEMS OR ABUSES OF AUTHORITY. POLICE THEMSELVES MAY FOSTER THEIR PROFESSIONALISM BY CONCEALING OFFICER MISCONDUCT OR BY USING AND ABUSING CRIME STATISTICS OR TECHNOLOGY TO ENHANCE THEIR PUBLIC APPEARANCE. PRESENT BARRIERS, HOWEVER, TO FOSTERING POLICE PROFESSIONALISM INCLUDE THE POLICE'S MILITARY STRUCTURE WHICH LIMITS INITATIVE AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT, AND LACK OF PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION. MOREOVER, ALTHOUGH POLICE ACKNOWLEDGE THE IMPACT OF THE DEPARTMENT ON PERFORMANCE, POLICE BELIEVE THAT PROFESSIONALISM IS A QUALITY OF THE INDIVIDUAL OFFICER, AND THAT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PROGRAMS HAVE HURT POLICE PROFESSIONALISM. FINALLY, MORE EDUCATION DOES NOT NECESSARILY IMPROVE POLICE PERFORMANCE. NOTES AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (PAP)