SEVERAL DEFINITIONS OF 'PROFESSION' ARE PRESENTED, AND POLICE WORK IS EXAMINED IN LIGHT OF EACH OF THESE CRITERIA; IT IS CONCLUDED THAT PROFESSIONALIZATION WILL REQUIRE GREATER ATTENTION TO EDUCATION.
THE DEBATE ABOUT POLICE WORK AS A 'PROFESSION' OR AS A 'TRADE' HAS INCREASED OVER RECENT YEARS. WHILE POLICE WORK HAS NOT HISTORICALLY BEEN CONSIDERED ONE OF THE 'FREE PROFESSIONS,' MEANING THAT THE MEMBERS WERE FREE TO SET THEIR OWN NORMS AND WERE FREE FROM RESPONSIBILITY TO AN EMPLOYER, CHANGING SOCIAL STRUCTURES HAVE REMOVED THE 'FREE' ASPECT FROM THE CRITERIA OF MOST OF THE HISTORICALLY RECOGNIZED PROFESSIONS. ONE ARGUMENT MAINTAINS THAT A MODERN PROFESSION MUST HAVE A PROTRACTED PERIOD OF FORMAL TRAINING IN SOME BODY OF ABSTRACT KNOWLEDGE AND A STRONG SERVICE ORIENTATION. ANOTHER DEFINITION SPECIFIES A BASIS OF SYSTEMATIC THEORY, AUTHORITY RECOGNIZED BY THE CLIENTELE OF THE GROUP (AS OPPOSED TO A 'CUSTOMER' RELATIONSHIP), BROAD COMMUNITY SANCTION AND APPROVAL OF THIS AUTHORITY, A CODE OF ETHICS, AND A PROFESSIONAL CULTURE SUSTAINED BY FORMAL PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS. POLICE WORK DEFINITELY POSSESSES AUTHORITY RECONGNIZED BY BOTH SOCIETY AND THE PERSONS DEALT WITH. IT ALSO HAS A CODE OF ETHICS AND STRONG PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS. A VAST BODY OF THEORY IS NECESSARY TO PROPERLY PERFORM A LAW ENFORCEMENT JOB. HOWEVER, STUDY OF THIS THEORY IS SPOTTY. ALSO, POLICE WORK IS KEPT FROM BEING A PROFESSION BY THE TIME SPENT ENFORCING SOCIAL REGULATIONS AND LOCAL CONTROL. THE MINOR TRAFFIC INFRACTIONS WHICH OCCUPY SO MUCH TIME ARE SELDOM THE ACTS OF REAL CRIMINALS. IF THE POLICE COULD BE RELIEVED OF THIS RESPONSIBILITY, THEY COULD CONCENTRATE ON IMPROVING SERVICE TO THE REST OF SOCIETY. SOCIAL AGENCIES SHOULD ALSO ELIMINATE THEIR 'NINE-TO-FIVE' MENTALITY AND ASSUME SOME OF THE FAMILY CRISIS WORK WHICH HAS FALLEN TO THE POLICE SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY ARE AVAILABLE AROUND THE CLOCK. POLICE WORK OF THE FUTURE SHOULD SEE GREATER EDUCATION, GREATER DEVELOPMENT OF SPECIALISTS, AND GREATER USE OF SCIENTIFIC METHODS AND A TEAM APPROACH. THIS IS THE FIRST STEP TOWARD TRUE PROFESSIONALIZATION. (GLR)