Citation

김재운. Police Sci. J. 2013; 8(1): 317-345.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

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Abstract

Police officers in Korea use violence to other people such as traffic accident by drunken driving or sexual violence, which causes socially public criticism more often due to excessive drinking. The purpose of this study is to present the basic materials to prepare for coping measures against police officers' drinking issues in each police organization by examining the degree of drinking risk and personal characteristics of police officers contributing to risk drinking in Korea as an empirical study. Materials used in this study were collected by using self-survey method targeting police officers at the levels of senior inspector, inspector, assistant inspector taking the mandatory training course in National Police University and Police Training Institute. Subjects of this study were 763 and main analysis methods included the frequency analysis method, t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA). As a result of this analysis, alcohol consumption, frequency of binge drinking and AUDIT score of the police officers were at a very dangerous level compared to groups in other areas such as employees, civil servants, military personnel and firefighters. Drinking rate for 6months in police officers in South Korea was 90.0% and binge drinker was 26.9%. Risk drinking group of AUDIT score of 8 points or more was 66.3%, which was higher than employees in Korea of 55.8% and police officers in US of 19.5%. Personal gender of police officer showed statistically significant differences in alcohol consumption and frequency of binge drinking. Age showed statistically significant differences in the frequency of binge drinking. Department which they were working showed statistically significant differences in the frequency of binge drinking and AUDIT score. Thus, in order to reduce a drinking issue of police officers', it is thought that special drinking measure about male police officers at 20s who working in investigation department or information department is needed. When people are hired as police officers or they are transferred into investigation department or information department, coping measures are needed such as special education about drinking culture and moderation in drink, establishment of alcohol regulation in each police station or psychological counseling on police officers with problem drinking.