Policing and Relationships: Examining the Impact of Community and Organizational Relationships on Job-Related Attitudes in Law Enforcement

In many front-line professions, especially those in law enforcement, the people-centered nature of the job and work relationships are essential considerations for understanding organizational effectiveness. The relationships among citizens, constituents, or other service recipients and the state are particularly critical to shaping the outcomes of important public policies. This article explores the impact of the relational nature of work in policing on job-related attitudes of satisfaction and organizational commitment, both of which are related to individual performance and organizational outcomes. This study uses data from a web-based survey of sworn law enforcement officials across the United States on perspectives of roles and work. Findings here indicate that community relationships, transformational leadership, coworker trust, and public service motivation are positively related to both job satisfaction and organizational commitment. Implications for theory, practice, and future research are discussed, followed by concluding comments on the future of policing.