Citation

Harris CJ. Police Q. 2009; 12(2): 192-213.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1098611108327314

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study explores the relationship between police officer experience and problem behaviors (using unnecessary force, employing improper tactics, and so on) using longitudinal data gathered from a large cohort of officers. As extant research on problem behaviors has been cross-sectional and gathered for a limited number of years, little is known about the patterns of these behaviors over time. As there is no guidance in police research for examining these behaviors across experience, the criminal career paradigm is employed. Results suggest that although experience and problem behaviors are related in an orderly way in the aggregate, there is a substantial amount of variation in these behaviors across the police population. Implications are discussed.