THE SOCIALIZATION PROCESS FOR POLICE IS SEEN TO BEGIN WITH THE POLICE SELECTION PROCESS. IT IS OBSERVED THAT CERTAIN EDUCATIONAL, CULTURAL, AND ATTITUDINAL CHARACTERISTICS SEEM TO TYPIFY THE POLICE RECRUIT. THE AUTHOR NOTES THAT THE SOCIALIZATION PROCESS CONTINUES IN THE POLICE TRAINING STAGE. THE RECRUITS ARE INSTRUCTED BY POLICE OFFICERS, WHO PROVIDE TRAINING ON AREAS TRADITIONALLY CONSIDERED OF IMPORTANCE BY THE POLICE CULTURE. ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT STEPS IN THE SOCIALIZATION PROCESS, ACCORDING TO THE AUTHOR, IS THE INITIAL POLICE FIELD ASSIGNMENT. IN THIS SITUATION, THE RECRUIT IS UNDER EXTREMELY STRONG PRESSURE TO RESPECT AND EMULATE THE SENIOR OFFICERS, AND TO GAIN ACCEPTANCE BY CONFORMING TO TYPICAL POLICE ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIORS. FACTORS WITHIN THE POLICE ORGANIZATION ALSO ARE FOUND TO SUPPORT THE EXISTENCE OF A POLICE CULTURE. THESE FACTORS INCLUDE THE POLICE HIERARCHICAL STRUCTURE, POLICE MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES, BEHAVIORAL DEMANDS ON POLICE, TYPICAL CAREER PROGRESSIONS, AND JOB-RELATED STRESS. FINALLY, THE INTERACTIONS OF THE POLICE AND THE COMMUNITY WHICH INFLUENCE THE POLICE CULTURE ARE DISCUSSED.