Leaving Police Work: A Comparative Study of Transition into Retirement

• In Event: Posters I

Abstract

The vast majority of the literature on retirement focuses its attention on the general financial aspects of leaving the work force. Only a few studies explore the social and psychological aspects of retirement. Even fewer seek to understand the social and psychological factors that affect retiree’s from the police occupation. None are comparative where samples of police organizations from nations across the globe are compared. The present study explores what factors affect retirees’ transition from a highly active and adventurous work life to that of retirement. The study compares three groups of officers and retirees. The first group are current officers who are within 3 to 5 years from retirement. The second group retired within the last year. The third group left police work between 3 to 5 years ago. The current study sampled police organizations in four nations: The US, Thailand, India and Jamaica.

The findings reveal many similarities in the transition process and also differences that can be linked to the retiree’s preparation for retirement, the extent of their social integration into police work and the national/regional culture in which they live. Policy implications and best practices are presented.

Authors

• Richard Bennett, American University

• Sandra Baxter, Retired

• Katie Mitchell, American University