POLICEMAN AS ALIENATED LABORER

• NCJ Number: 32367
• Journal: Campus Law Enforcement Journal Volume: 6 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1976) Pages: 18-23
• Author(s): T Denyer; R Callender; D L Thompson
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 6 pages
• Corporate Author: International Assoc of College and University Security Directors
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

THE CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF POLICE JOB ALIENATION ARE REVIEWED, AND THE AUTHORS SUGGEST THAT POLICE TRAINING WHICH INSTILLS EXPECTATIONS CONSISTENT WITH THE REALITY OF POLICE WORK MAY REDUCE POLICE ALIENATION.

Abstract

IT IS NOTED THAT POLICE ALIENATION MAY ARISE FROM PUBLIC APATHY, FROM THE POLICEMAN'S LACK OF CONTROL OVER HIS WORK ENVIRONMENT, FROM POOR WORKING CONDITIONS, AND FROM THE GAP BETWEEN THE POLICEMAN'S CONCEPT OF HIS ROLE AS A POLICE OFFICER AND THE ROLE HE IS ACTUALLY FORCED TO ASSUME. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POLICE EFFECTIVENESS AND POLICE JOB SATISFACTION IS THEN EXAMINED. THE NEEDS WHICH MUST BE MET TO INSURE JOB SATISFACTION ARE ALSO DISCUSSED; THESE INCLUDE PHYSICAL SECURITY, A SENSE OF BELONGING, EFFICACY, AND SELF-TRANSCENDENCE. POLICE TRAINING WHICH EMPHASIZES A POSITIVE APPROACH TO POLICE WORK AND WHICH PREPARES THE POLICEMAN TO DEAL WITH THE FRUSTRATIONS OF THE SOCIAL SERVICE ASPECTS OF HIS JOB IS RECOMMENDED BY THE AUTHORS.