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Relationship Between Career Pathways of Internal and Citizen Complaints

NCJ Number
235166
Journal
Police Quarterly Volume: 14 Issue: 2 Dated: June 2011 Pages: 142-165
Author(s)
Christopher J. Harris
Date Published
June 2011
Length
24 pages
Annotation
This study explored the career pathways and their related linkages of officer problem behaviors.
Abstract
This study explores the career pathways and their related linkages of officer problem behaviors from two sources: complaints filed by citizens and complaints filed internally by other officers. Using retrospective longitudinal data from a large cohort of officers, results indicate that while both citizen and internal complaints are patterned differently at the aggregate level over officer experience, both contain multiple pathways at the individual level. Analyses further demonstrate a small group of officers in both complaint types who account for a disproportionate amount of deviance, and officers belonging to one group tend to belong to the other. Implications are discussed. (Published Abstract)