Recruitment of individuals to fill role of police officers

Finding qualified applicants

• Typically come from lower class or working class backgrounds

• High school education with past history of employment

• Motivated by need for job security.

Problems and Successes

• Recruiting is one of top problems facing agencies.

• Economy can certainly be a factor

• Requirement for applicants to have college credits

• PAY• Attracting and attaining women. Note: about 60% of

women who leave policing do so in the 2nd to 5th year

• Passing tests to get hired. Such as physical agility tests, psychological tests, polygraph tests, medical tests.

Problems and Successes

• It has been found that 2 to 5 percent of applicant pool may

be eliminated due to severe emotional or mental problems.• Policing is no place for the physically unfit.

• Drug testing required at many agencies and this can deter applicants.

Police Academies

• After we finally select people to hire we send them to the

police academy.• States have regional academies or some agencies have in

house academies

• Some agencies are stressing pre -service model.

• Academy graduates are sent to FTO’s for field training.

• Officers learn how to police and how to work within an agencies polices and procedures.

• Agencies are using technology to help train recruits.

What traits make a good cop?

• Enthusiasm

• Good communication skills

• Good judgment

• Sense of humor

• Creativity & self motivation

• Knowing the job & the system

What traits make a good cop?

• Ego

• Courage

• Discretion

• Tenacity

• Thirst for knowledge

Who defines the police role?

• Private Citizens

• Legislative bodies

• Courts

• Executives

• Police officers themselves

Patrol Functions

• Deter crime by visible presence

• Maintain public order

• Rapid response

• Identify and apprehend violators

• Care for those unable to care for themselves

• Facilitate movement of traffic

• Create a sense of security

Shift Work

• Day Shift – most contact with citizens

• Evening shift – work a variety of calls

• Night or Morning Shift – entirely different world.

Officer Deaths

• Officers killed in line of duty has declined since 2001

• 48 officers feloniously killed in 2006

• About 38 years old

• On the job about 11 years

• Murdered with firearms

• 26 were wearing body armor

• 22 were employed in the south

Patrol Vehicle

• Contains gear that attributes to the officer’s safety

• Provides comfort

• Safe place to deposit combative prisoners

• Rolling symbol of authority

• Most people do not like to see a police car behind them but enjoy seeing them in their neighborhoods.

• Citizens have been fascinated with the speed and imposing appearance

• What other ways do police patrol?

Patrol Studies

• 1973 Kansas City Experiment

• 3 different aspects of patrol.

• One sector increased patrols. One sector decreased patrols.

Third sector no patrols.

Outcome: area where no patrolling was done showed no weakening in deterring crime. Citizens attitude of police and fear of crime were not changed. Ability of police to respond to calls not affected.