Cynicism among police is directed either at the world and people in general or against the police system itself; the first type is endemic to policemen, but the second type must be excluded from the ideology of the professional officer. Three potential adaptations to cynicism often exhibited by officers include anomie and a lessening of one's commitment to the social system and its values, incorporation into a delinquent occupational subculture, and rejection of cynicism along with a renewed commitment to the ideal of an honorable police career. This author points to two critical moments in a police officer's advanced career when he is most apt to reject cynicism: when he considers retrospectively the risks his career has involved and when, near the age of retirement, he is rejected for another type of job. The four stages of cynicism -- pseudo, romantic, aggressive, and resigned -- are directly related to a policeman's age and experience. 6 references