The Making of a Community Policing Officer: The Impact of Basic Training and Occupational Socialization on Police Recruits

Abstract

This study examines the impact of basic training, field training, and work environment on shaping police recruits' attitudes and beliefs related to community policing, problem-solving policing, and police public relations. A multiple-treatment, single-case pretest-posttest design was used to survey 446 police recruits from 14 successive basic-training academy classes at the Phoenix Regional Police Training Academy. The sample of police recruits was followed through the 606.5-hour, 16-week basic-training program and then through field training and the completion of a 1-year probationary period. Over 16 months, they were surveyed at four points and times. Findings reveal that although the training academy has a positive impact on police recruits' attitudes related to community policing and problem solving, over time, those positive attitudinal changes dissipate as police recruits proceed to their respective police agencies where they are assigned a field training officer and are exposed to the work environment and organizational culture.