“I’ll tell ya, as long as we’re the only son-of-a- bitches that have to handle ripe bodies that have been dead for 9 days in a 90 degree room, or handle skid row drunks who’ve been crapping their pants for 24 hours… then we’ll never be like anyone else. As far as I can see, no one else is ever gonna want to do that shit. But somebody’s gotta do it and I guess it’ll always be the police. But hell, this is the only profession where ya gotta wash your hands before you take a piss!” -A young patrolman from the Seattle PD (1976)

The Police Culture The Human Perspective

Environment Coping Mechanism Outcome Occupational Danger Authority Organizational Supervisor Scrutiny Role Ambiguity Stress Suspiciousness Maintain Edge Lay low / CYA Crime Fighter Orientation Social Isolation Loyalty INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

Occupational Culture What is it? Accepted practices, rules, principles of conduct, beliefs, etc. that are developed and transmitted across members as means of coping with a variety of tasks and problems that arise in a given occupation. What is this important? Barrier to both reform & accountability

Occupational Environment Danger “hypervigilance” Authority Back to Bittner: coercive authority key aspect of police role “license to threaten drastic harm to others”

Organizational Environment Supervisor Scrutiny Unpredictable (counterpart to danger) Punitive (“punishment centered bureaucracy”) Role Ambiguity 3 roles: crime control, service, order maintenance Only crime control gets reinforced/rewarded

Coping Mechanisms (1)Suspiciousness Helps deal with uncertainty Applies to both citizens and new officers (2) Maintaining the edge Helps deal with danger (3) Cover Your Ass Helps deal with supervisor scrutiny (4) Crime fighter orientation Helps deal with role ambiguity

Culture Transmission How? Starts at the academy (“war stories”) Continues during probationary period w/FTO, peers, and immediate supervisors “Reality Shock” What officers leaned at the academy is of little value in guiding day-to-day behavior Officers look for guidance from veteran colleagues

Outcomes Social Isolation “We” vs. “Them” Loyalty “Blue wall of silence” – Somewhat overstated now

Back to Systems Theory The police culture is an emergent system The police culture has important effects on: productivity, satisfaction, and growth

Key Question Is there a single police culture?  Yes and No Yes: Similar occupational characteristics result in similar values, beliefs, outlooks, etc. No: Police values are not uniform or static Timing of research (1960s – present) and changes in policing

Occupational Culture Organizational Culture Rank Culture Typologies / Styles Levels of Analysis

Organizational Culture 3 different cultures: (1)Legalistic: focused on crime fighting (2)Watchman: focused on order maintenance (3)Service: focused on (surprise!) service  Emphasizes top administrator’s and their ability to influence culture

Rank Culture  Street cops vs. Management cops Street cops: Culture of patrol personnel Same tenents as occupational culture Management cops Culture of supervisory personnel Focused on crime control via traditional model

Officer Types/Styles Highlights individualism of police officers “Craft” of policing: officers learn by personal experience and develop their own styles. Styles may or may not be in accordance with occupational or organizational culture Key implication: officers adapt to work environment in different ways

Example: Brown’s Typology Selectivity AggressivenessLowHigh LowProfessionalClean-beat crime fighter HighServiceOld-style crime fighter Aggressiveness: taking initiative on the street to control crime, and the preoccupation with order that legitimizes the use of illegal tactics Selectivity: the belief that all laws should be enforced insofar as possible, and those who consciously assign felonies a higher priority

Reminder Journal 1 due Wednesday! (start of class) Should include 7 entries: Textbook chapters: 1, 5, 6, 8, & 11 Wiki readings: Bittner & Paoline Next class: Chapter 11 Talk about strategic management