Reasons for Choosing a Police Career: Changes over Two Decades

In recent years, police officers in the US have been under increased public scrutiny, which may have affected both the public perception of the police as well as the desire of individuals to choose a career in law enforcement. In particular, many police departments have been criticised for their treatment of racial and ethnic minorities. This study compared responses of 131 police recruits and graduates with the results of a study with an earlier cohort of this population conducted in 1983. The goals of the present study were (a) to determine whether the relative importance of reported reasons for choosing a police career had changed; (b) to evaluate how demographic variables may play a role in career choice; and (c) to replicate the factor structure of the original questionnaire to assess its ongoing utility. Results indicated that the relative importance of reasons changed slightly, with small but significant differences for women and minorities. The factor structure of the original study was essentially replicated, indicating that the factors motivating individuals to seek a police career have remained stable over time. These results are discussed in terms of their implications for career counsellors working with individuals considering a career in police work.