Police Perceptions of Their Working Environment: Surveying the Small Department

Abstract

This paper reports the findings of an exploratory study designed to provide a local police chief and other key stakeholders with perceptions of police officers related to policing a small town in south central Pennsylvania. Following a brief review of the literature that examines many of the issues addressed in the present study, the methodology and major findings from the study are reported and discussed. The paper concludes with recommendations for possible interventions that could be undertaken, by not only the department in question, but by small police departments in other locations as well.