NCJ Number
166675
Journal
American Journal of Police Volume: 15 Issue: 3 Dated: (1996) Pages: 23-44
Date Published
1996
Length
22 pages
Annotation
This study of complaints against police officers found that police misconduct is not a universal phenomenon and that most police officers are hard-working professionals who exercise restraint and respect when dealing with the general public.
Abstract
Study data were collected from the internal affairs office of a large police department that employed 508 sworn law enforcement personnel who had an mean length of service of 11.97 years. To be considered for the study, a citizen must have initiated contact with the police department and expressed displeasure over an encounter with a sworn police officer. Over a 3-year period, 527 complaints were filed, and these complaints translated into 682 allegations of police misconduct. Complaints were grouped into four distinct categories: complaints involving force (n=149); nonviolent complaints of threatening behavior, harassment, and discourtesy (n=339); dereliction in the performance of duties (n=159); and miscellaneous (n=35). The 682 allegations involved 274 police officers. Only 37 police officers, 7 percent of sworn law enforcement personnel, accounted for more than one-third of all complaints. Male police officers classified as repeat offenders were significantly younger and less experienced than their peers and were more likely to be accused of violent and nonviolent harassment resulting from a proactive contact. While repeat offenders were more likely to be accused of misconduct by minority citizens, many complaints were intraracial in nature when race of the accused police officer was controlled. Results suggest the need for additional training and monitoring of younger, less experienced police officers. 40 references and 6 tables