Exploring the dispositions of effective university police officers

• Main Author: Willis, Jason Glenn
• Language: EN
• Published: Northern Kentucky University 2015
• Subjects: Behavioral psychology|Higher education administration|Criminology
• Online Access: http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=3707337

<p> The primary purpose of this study was to determine if effective university police officers differ from less effective university officers based on their perceptions/dispositions according to perceptual psychology theory. By establishing that effective university police officers possess specific dispositions, strategies can be developed to identify these dispositions in police officer candidates during the hiring process and to continue supporting their dispositional growth afterwards. This could potentially lead to the hiring of effective university police officers who are more likely to become engaged in the university community and ultimately improve organizational effectiveness. Effective university police officers typically approach their duties with the same philosophy as effective educators, social workers, or coaches would approach their work. Four dimensions associated with officer effectiveness were studied: perceptions of self as identified, perceptions of others as able, perceptions of purpose as larger, and a frame of reference as people-oriented.</p>