Implementing Community-Oriented Policing: Organizational Change and Street Officer Attitudes

Abstract

The limited amount of research on the impact of community-oriented policing (COP) on officer attitudes toward their jobs has been conducted in large cities. In the present study, we analyze survey data from 285 nonsupervisory officers in six small to midsize law enforcement agencies to examine how COP training and COP officer designation is associated with attitudes toward COP principles, support for COP, and job satisfaction. Results indicate that community police officers spend more time engaged in COP-related activities, are more supportive of COP methods and goals, more supportive of organizational changes necessary to implement COP, and more satisfied with their jobs when compared to traditional officers. In addition, officers who perceived their department as having a participatory management style were more positive about community policing and more satisfied with their jobs. Surprisingly, a large majority of traditional officers also supported COP goals and the transition to COP in their departments.