DATA WERE GATHERED FROM INTERVIEWS OF 2,200 OFFICERS AND POLICE ADMINISTRATORS FROM FIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. THE AGENCIES SERVED DIFFERENT RACIAL AND ETHNIC POPULATION MIXES IN COMMUNITIES RANGING IN POPULATION FROM 100,00 TO 2 MILLION. FINDINGS INDICATED THAT RACISM IS ENCOURAGED AND DISPLAYED IN POLICE AGENCIES IN THAT MINORITY OFFICERS ARE AGGRESSIVELY ELIMINATED DURING INITIAL TRAINING, GIVEN ASSIGNMENTS THAT DO NOT ADVANCE THEIR CAREERS, AND GIVEN UNJUST EVALUATIONS AND DISCIPLINE. IN ADDITION, EXISTING POLICE AGENCY RESOURCES TO COMBAT MINORITY ASSIGNMENT AND PROMOTION PROBLEMS ARE NOT BEING USED, ALTHOUGH MANY WHITE POLICEMEN FAVOR ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES TO HELP THEIR MINORITY FELLOW-WORKERS. NONOFFICIAL POLICE ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS FRATERNITIES AND UNIONS ALSO PROMOTE RACIST PRACTICES IN THE OFFICIAL POLICE ORGANIZATION, HOWEVER. QUESTIONNAIRES ELICITING RACIAL ATTITUDES REVEAL SUBSTANTIAL VARIATIONS AMONG AGENCIES AND RACES, AND VARYING OPINIONS ABOUT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PROGRAMS. OTHER FINDINGS SHOW THAT FOUR OUT OF FIVE AGENCIES PARTICIPATING IN THE STUDY ARE WILLING TO STRUCTURE CHANGE TO ALLEVIATE INSTITUTIONAL RACISM. ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES ARE NEEDED TO COMBAT INSTITUTIONAL RACISM AND UNFAIR OFFICER PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT ENDING INSTITUTIONAL RACISM IN POLICE AGENCIES WILL DEPEND ON RECRUITING MINORITIES AND HELPING THEM SUCCEED AND ON ENLISTING THE SUPPORT OF POLICE UNIONS. TABLES AND FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED.