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Rise to the Top - An Analysis of Police Chief Career Patterns

NCJ Number
104195
Journal
Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 14 Issue: 4 Dated: (December 1986) Pages: 334-346
Author(s)
J E Enter
Date Published
1986
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This examination of the career paths of 117 police chiefs identifies career typologies and their frequency.
Abstract
Data were obtained from subject resumes, a survey questionnaire, correspondence, and phone interviews. Most (67.5 percent) of the chiefs fit the 'insider' career typology, in that they had risen to chief through the ranks of a single agency. The next largest group (23.9 percent) fit the 'outsider' typology, which involved lateral movement to become chief from a supervisory position in another police agency. The remaining career patterns were types of the 'ultimate outsider,' where chiefs came from Federal or military law enforcement positions, from a criminal justice but nonpolice position, or from a multiagency career path that involved both police and nonpolice experience. None of the chiefs came from careers unrelated to criminal justice. The 'insider' chiefs had longer career paths, lower educational levels, and less 'exposure' to important staff assignments than did 'outsider' chiefs. The future popularity of the 'outsider' career typology will depend upon the degree to which police agencies accept lateral entry as a means of obtaining highly qualified chiefs. Implications for future research, 9 tables, and 31 references.

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