A POLICE OFFICER SHOULD CONSIDER HIS CAREER DEVELOPMENT FROM TWO POINTS OF VIEW. IDEALLY, HE SHOULD SEE POLICE WORK AS A PROFESSION. THIS IS THE WAY THAT LAWYERS, TEACHERS AND PHYSICIANS IDENTIFY WITH THEIR OCCUPATIONS. ONCE COMMITTED TO THE PROFESSION, THE INDIVIDUAL IDENTIFIES WITH THE SPECIFIC AGENCY OR DEPARTMENT THAT IS HIS ACTUAL EMPLOYER. THIS ATTITUDE IS INCREASINGLY COMMON AMONG OFFICERS NOW ENTERING THE LAW ENFORCEMENT FIELD. OLDER POLICE OFFICERS HAVE MORE TYPICALLY VIEWED THEIR CAREER INTERESTS IN TERMS OF WHAT A SPECIFIC DEPARTMENT MIGHT OFFER, SO IDENTIFICATION WITH THE POLICE PROFESSION WAS SECONDARY. THIS CHANGE IN ATTITUDE OF POLICE PRACTITIONERS IS IMPORTANT FOR BOTH THE INDIVIDUAL SEEKING A SATISFYING CAREER AND THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSION. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)