Police Interviews

Similarities of the two interviews

The interview reports from officer 1 and II have some similarities. Both of the interviewees are female police officers and therefore, they are likely to give out some similar information especially on matters that affect the female gender. Another similarity is that both of the police officers were of the black race. This also indicates that there may be similarities in some answers to matters that pertains ethnicity. The officers may also conceal ethnic information or worse still, exaggerate it.

Another similarity between the two police officers is that both of them agree that a certain level of education is important for effective service delivery in the police. Officer one says, “A two year degree maybe…”, while officer II says, “A four year degree…” This is an indication that police force should come from educated people. This is due to the nature and variation of the requirements in their work.

Finally, the two also give seemingly similar answers by stating that the police force is not as bad as it is portrayed or stereotyped by the people. Although there are some characters among them that have bad habits, most of them are good doers. They also blame the mode of spreading messages for the poor image of the police. Both of them defend their individual personalities. According to Bowling (2007), personality is more important in regard to job performance than even satisfaction (167). For example, police officer 1 blames it on the media when she says, “The reality is that the media has more influence…” while police officer II refutes that all policemen are bad people as it has been perceived. She says, “Not all of us eat doughnuts and beat people.”

In addition, both officers have been faced with life threatening situations in the course of their duties. This is an indication that the police job is dangerous and life threatening. Officer II is not very experienced and has just been in the force for two years. However, she has been shot but escaped unhurt. This is a true indication that the everyday work of the police officers is dangerous hence it needs commitment and sacrifice. In the process of providing others with security, one is also likely to lose their lives.

Contrasting between the two police interviewees

There are also some differences that come out of the interview reports. The two policemen are of different ages and ranks in the force. Police I is aged 50 years, which may have a certain impact on how she perceives the police force. For example, she says that she would highly recommend others to join the police force and that the force can offer a good and comfortable lifestyle to officers. On the other hand, police officer II say that she can only recommend it to someone, only if one cannot find a well-paying job. According to Brief & Weiss (2002), circumstances like pay and working conditions affect job satisfaction (297).To her, police job should come in as a result of desperation and unattained goals. This officer is just 28years and has been in the police force for two years. This difference in age and experience may cause the variation of answers between the two officers.

There is also a difference in the reason for joining the police force. For example, police officer I joined the force as a result of a dream come true. She longed to be a police officer since she was young. She says, “I have always wanted to be an LAPD officer from the time I was a young child”. On the contrary, officer II joined the police force because she could not find any other well-paying job. She says, “I could not find a job that paid good money when I came out of college this job did”. The motives of the two officers vary. This may also affect their levels of job satisfaction. According to Judge et al. (1997), internal locus of control leads to higher job satisfaction. This is why officer II cannot recommend others to join the force (151).

There are also differences about their worst parts of the job. Officer I does not like the mistreatments of the employees by the managers in the force. The violators of major rules of the force are not punished. To her, the inside workings of the force is a challenge. According to Hackman & Oldham (1976), working environment like supervision and working conditions affect job satisfaction (250). On the other hand, the second officer does not like being overworked since she is sometimes forced to work during her off days. To her, sacrificing for the force is an impediment to her well-being.

References

Brief, A. P., & Weiss, H. M. (2002). Organizational behavior: Affect in the workplace. Annual Review of Psychology, 53, 279–307.

Bowling, N.A. (2007). Is the Job Satisfaction-Job Performance Relationship Spurious. A Meta-Analytic Examination. Journal of Vocational Behavior, (71), pp.167-185.

Hackman, J. R., & Oldham, G. R. (1976). Motivation through the design of work: Test of a theory. Organizational Behavior and Human Performance 16 (2): 250–279.

Judge, T. A., Locke, E. A., & Durham, C. C. (1997). The dispositional causes of job satisfaction: A core evaluations approach. Research in Organizational Behavior, 19, 151–188.