COP ATTITUDES OF POLICE OFFICERS’: WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE COLOMBO CITY RANGE

Authors

  • J.S. Senevirathne Department of Mathematics, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka

Abstract

The acceptable role of the police has been the subject of much discussion particularly in recent years as policing has undergone a period of unprecedented change, including the adoption of Community Oriented Policing (COP). This change has prompted research interest into exploring COP attitudes that have to be exemplified by an “ideal” COP officer. The COP attitudes, which make a good police officer, are often difficult to identify. With the absence of a relevant measurement system, the upper level of the hierarchy experience difficulty in motivating their middle level managers and line-level officers to change their approach towards COP.  In this paper, the researcher has explored how an officer’s demographic and job related characteristics would affect his/her COP attitudes in the context of the Sri Lankan police department. The study was carried out using a sample of 214 police officers from eight police stations in the Colombo city range. Using intensive literature and the data gathered through questionnaires, interviews and observations, an officer’s COP attitudes were measured in terms of flexibility (numerical, work-time, functional, etc…) and individualism (hedonism, self reliance and utilitarianism).Data analysis revealed a strong positive correlation between an officer’s age, length of service, career aspirations, job category and his/her COP attitudes. It further reveals that regular officers have positive COP attitudes compared to reservist officers. Finally the study suggests a COP attitude evaluation model for the Sri Lankan police department that would monitor the level of COP attitudes of an officer over a period of time.

Keywords: Community Oriented Policing, COP Attitudes, Police

 

For full paper: fmscresearch@sjp.ac.lk

Author Biography

J.S. Senevirathne, Department of Mathematics, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka

Department of Mathematics,
University of Colombo, Sri Lanka

Published

2012-12-21