AMBIGUITY ABOUT THE SUBSTANCE AND SOURCE OF POLICE PROFESSIONALISM STEMS FROM CONFLICTING OBJECTIVES ASSOCIATED WITH PROFESSIONALIZATION. CONFLICT IS PRIMARILY THE CONSEQUENCE OF THE NATURE OF THE POLICE FUNCTION AND THE POLITICAL CONTEXT IN WHICH POLICE WORK. TRADITIONAL PROFESSIONS DEVELOPED AS THEIR PRACTITIONERS PERFORMED IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. POLICE, ON THE OTHER HAND, HAVE BEEN PUBLICLY EMPLOYED AND CONTROLLED AND ARE THUS VIEWED PRIMARILY AS PUBLIC EMPLOYEES, NOT AS PROFESSIONALS SERVING THE PUBLIC. ALTHOUGH ADVANCES IN EDUCATION FOR POLICE HAVE BEEN INSTITUTED THESE DO NOT NECESSARILY CHANGE CONDITIONS THAT IMPEDE PROFESSIONALIZATION; PARAMILITARY, HIERARCHICAL ORGANIZATION; POLITICAL CONTROL; AND INSTITUTIONAL AMBIVALENCE TOWARD EDUCATION. ERIKA FAIRCHILD HAS OBSERVED TWO MODELS OF PROFESSIONALISM IN POLICING--ORGANIZATIONAL OF MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONALISM AND INDIVIDUAL OR SUBJECT MATTER PROFESSIONALISM. ORGANIZATIONAL PROFESSIONALISM INCLUDES MERIT HIRING, WELL-TRAINED PERSONNEL, TECHNICAL COMPETENCE, AND EFFICIENCY OF OPERATIONS. INDIVIDUAL OR SUBJECT-AREA PROFESSIONALISM IMPLIES AN OCCUPATIONAL IDENTITY CHARACTERIZED BY EXPERTISE OR THE ACQUISITION OF A SYSTEMATIC BODY OF KNOWLEDGE, SELF-REGULATION ACCORDING TO A SET OF ETHICS, WIDE DISCRETION IN DEALING WITH CLIENTS, AND RECOGNITION AND TRUST FROM THE PUBLIC REGARDING PROFESSIONAL STATUS. EXPLORATORY DISCUSSIONS WITH POLICE OFFICERS CONCERNING THE MEANING AND SOURCE OF PROFESSIONALISM INDICATE THAT OFFICERS DISTINGUISH BETWEEN ORGANIZATIONAL AND INDIVIDUAL PROFESSIONALISM. THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THE IMPACT OF THE DEPARTMENT (RULES, LEADERSHIP) ON PERFORMANCE, BUT VIEW THE FOUNDATION OF PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR AS INHERENT IN INDIVIDUAL OFFICERS. PROFESSIONALISM IS PERCEIVED MOST OFTEN AS 'COMMON SENSE' OR AN ABILITY TO CONTROL OUTCOMES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT INCIDENTS. THE CHARACTERISTICS IS NOT CONSIDERED TO BE NECESSARILY TIED TO EITHER LEVEL OF EDUCATION OR QUALITY OF TRAINING BUT IS A COMBINATION OF PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS AND THE CAPACITY TO LEARN FROM EXPERIENCE. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)