CONSIDERED IS THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE POLICE HAVE ATTAINED OR ARE LIKELY TO ATTAIN CERTAIN CRITERIA OF PROFESSIONAL STATUS, SUCH AS A DEFINITION OF OCCUPATIONAL FUNCTION, OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALIZATION, INTELLECTUAL CONCEPTUALIZATION, PROCESS ORIENTATION, AND JOB DISCRETION. ALSO EXPLORED ARE SEVERAL EMPLOYMENT ISSUES (EDUCATION, MINORITY RECRUITMENT, LATERAL TRANSFER, CIVILIANIZATION, CORRUPTION, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT POLICY ISSUES) IN WHICH UNIONS HAVE BECOME INVOLVED AND WHICH BEAR UPON THE QUEST FOR PROFESSIONAL STATUS. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE POLICE ARE NOT A PROFESSION IN THE TRAIDTIONAL SENSE; THAT THE TRADITIONAL PROFESSIONAL MODEL IS INAPPROPRIATE FOR THE POLICE; THAT THE IMPACT OF POLICE UNIONS UPON THE POLICE QUEST FOR PROFESSIONAL STATUS HAS BEEN NEGATIVE; AND THAT POLICE UNIONS WILL PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN FUTURE OCCUPATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)