Citation

Reingle Gonzalez JM, Bishopp SA, Jetelina KK. J. Public Health (Oxford) 2015; 38(3): 614-620.

Affiliation

Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas School of Public Health, Dallas Regional Campus, 6011 Harry Hines Blvd. V.8.112, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Oxford University Press)

DOI

10.1093/pubmed/fdv113

PMID

26319932

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The limited research on police sexual misconduct (PSM), a common form of police misconduct, suggests that no evidence-based strategies for prevention are available for use by police departments. To identify new avenues for prevention, we critically evaluated 'front-end' police recruiting, screening, hiring and training procedures.

METHODS: Internal Affairs records were linked with administrative reports and police academy graduation data for officers accused of sexual assault or misconduct between 1994 and 2014. Logistic and proportional hazards regression methods were used to identify predictors of discharge for sustained allegations of PSM and time to discharge, respectively.

RESULTS: Officer's graduating class size was positively associated with odds of discharge for PSM. For every one-officer increase in class size, the rate of discharge for PSM increased by 9% [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.09, P < 0.01]. For particularly large classes (>35 graduates), discharge rates were at least four times greater than smaller classes (HR = 4.43, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Large class sizes and more annual graduates increase rates of PSM. Officer recruitment strategies or training quality may be compromised during periods of intensive hiring. Trainee to instructor ratios or maximum class sizes may be instituted by academies to ensure that all police trainees receive the required supervision, one-on-one training, feedback and attention necessary to maximize public safety.

Language: en