NCJ Number
89500
Journal
Police Stress Volume: 5 Issue: 3 Dated: (Winter 1982) Pages: 18-29
Date Published
1983
Length
12 pages
Annotation
The primary manifestation of officer stress resulting from a severe cutback in police funding was disidentification with and pride in the police role, and this manifestation was most prominent among white male officers.
Abstract
In December of 1980, at the beginning of the new budget year for 1981-82, the Wayne County Commission (Michigan) did not fund the Patrol and Investigation Division for the entire year. Operational and manpower funds were made available for only 2 months. At that time, the department had 750 deputized personnel. When this study was conducted in April 1982, the department strength had shrunk to 495. Of those remaining, 51 had been demoted in rank, some from inspector to patrol sergeant. This study administered a questionnaire to the personnel to explore the presence of various kinds of stress symptoms and behavior as well as the self-rated degree of presence of those factors. A total of 226 officers responded by completing the questionnaire. Psychosomatic symptoms were found in minor proportions, but officers' disidentification with the police role was prominent, as seen in loss of interest in carrying an off-duty firearm, wearing the departmental uniform, loss of interest in qualifying with a firearm, and loss of interest in serving the inmate population (those given jail service) and the community. Female officers and those given a rank demotion appeared to be the most stable. What was experienced in the Wayne County Sheriff's Department can be prevented by police administrators' soliciting advocacy for a police department strong in morale and resources from both public officials and the community. Tabular data and four bibliographic entries are provided.