The attitudes and goals of police supervisors: results from a national sample

Abstract

There is little research examining the general attitudes or goals of police supervisors. In this study, a survey instrument was provided to a sample of over 400 police supervisors in attendance at the FBI’s National Academy. Respondents work in law enforcement agencies that range from very large to very small. Findings indicate that police supervisors having aggressive law enforcement attitudes were related to two goals: making arrests, and seizing guns and drugs. Those supervisors having community policing attitudes were negatively related to seizing guns and drugs. Supervisor characteristics provided little help in explaining variations in policing goals. Research implications will be discussed.

Keywords:

• police supervisors
• police attitudes

Notes

1. Participants serve in supervisory positions, including sergeants, lieutenants, captains, and in some cases, police chiefs and sheriffs. This study could not readily identify ‘front-line’ supervisors who work directly with street-level officers and higher level administrators who may have very little interaction with patrol officers.