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Measuring Police Officer Behavior Over their Professional Life Course: From the Academy to Active Service

Wed, Nov 15, 3:30 to 4:50pm, Marriott, Room 410, 4th Floor

Abstract

Police agencies devote considerable resources to the selection, hiring, and academy training processes. The assumption is that the selection of quality personnel translates into successful officers in the academy and throughout their careers. However, there is limited research on the relationships between selection criteria, academy performance, street-level activity, and career success. The present study explores these relationships using personnel and performance data collected on 486 officers hired between 1996 and 2006 by a Midwestern police department. Specifically, we examine whether academy experience is related to measures of organizational success (promotions, commendations, complaints) and/or street-level activity (arrests, use of force).

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