Perceived organizational commitment among Korean police

• In Event: Roundtable: Policing in South Korea

Abstract

Organizational commitment is referred to as the employees’ psychological attachment to the achievement of the organization’s goals and has been a significant predictor of various employee behaviors, such as the reduction of misconduct and job satisfaction. Although organizational commitment generates several beneficial outcomes for law enforcement agencies, the police literature has under-examined organizational commitment. In particular, less is known about how agencies can improve officers’ organizational commitment. Given this gap in the policing literature, this study draws from Allen and Meyer’s (1990) approach to examine the relationship between organizational commitment and perceived organizational support. Using data gathered from over 10,000 police officers in South Korea, this study conducted an analysis of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and found that perceived support for training and training needs are strongly associated with organizational commitment. Implications for theory, policy, and future research are discussed.

Author

• Hyunin Baek, New Mexico State University