P6

What is the central question regarding the "Police Personality"?

Is it inherent or developmental (through experience)

Niederhoffer's study conclusion on police personality?

Personality characteristics change shortly after induction into the policing environment, suggesting it is developed on the job.

Characteristics of the police subculture

A group of specialists; common culture with values; specialized vocab; strong sense of unity; practice of 'professional courtesy.'

According to the Lancing Michigan Study, how do police differ from average citizens?

They are more oriented toward self-control and obedience, and more interested in personal than social goals.

The Dirty Harry Problem

Taking illegal actions to achieve what is believed to be a greater good.

Blue Wall of Silence

A cultural norm where officers protect each other by not reporting misconduct to supervisors or investigators.

Reasons for the Blue Wall of Silence

Distrust of 'civilians'; socialization that separates them from society; belief that no one else will protect them.

Blue Flu

An illegal form of protest where officers collectively call out sick because they are not allowed to strike.

List four common traits of the police personality.

Authoritarianism, suspicion, hostility, insecurity, conservatism, cynicism

Police cynicism

An attitude of having no hope for the world and viewing humanity at its worst.

First stage in the "Cycle of the Cynical Officer"?

Commitment: Driven by idealism and the belief that a difference can be made

What happens in the "Frustration" stage of the cynical officer?

The officer realizes that they are never going to make much of an impact

What is the final stage of the "Cycle of the Cynical Officer"?

Cynicism: The officer becomes distrustful and negative.

What is the body's natural reaction to stress known as?

Flight-or-Fight

Categories of police stress

External, Organizational, Personal, and Operational stress.

Factors causing police stress

Poor training, substandard equipment, role conflict, exposure to brutality/injury/death, poor pay, lack of opportunity.

Reduction in life expectancy for police officers

14 years.

According to the FBI, what are the top two programs requested by police officers?

Handling personal stress, Maintaining physical fitness.

Most lethal threat in police history

Police suicide.

Police suicide rate comparison to general public

3x greater

Comparison of deaths by suicide to deaths by criminals

3-5x more officers die by suicide than are killed by criminals.

Reasons for high police suicide rates

Access to firearms, exposure to suffering, shift work, social strain, lack of control.

Suicide by Cop

A phenomenon where a person deliberately provokes an officer to use deadly force against them.

2 leading causes of line-of-duty deaths for police

Gunfire and automobile accidents.

What are the two forms of penalties in a civil lawsuit (tort)?

Compensatory and punitive damages.

Double jeopardy in criminal and civil court (being tried twice for the same crime)

No, it is not double jeopardy.

Frank Serpico

A NYPD officer who exposed widespread police corruption, leading to the Knapp Commission.

Last resort for controlling inappropriate police behavior

Termination.

According to Kenneth Culp Davis, what kind of policy do police make?

What law to enforce, how to enforce it, against whom, and on what occasions.

Which of Broderick's operational styles sees due process as an obstacle and becomes disillusioned?

Realists

Which of Broderick's operational styles values individual rights but becomes cynical about the system's problems?

Idealists.