Police Professionalization and Police Unions

Abstract

The authors examine the validity of applying the traditional model of the professions to the police, analyze the role of police unions in the police professionallzation process, and reach four conclusions (I) the police are not a profession in the traditional sense; (2) the traditional professional model is inappropriate for the police; (3) the impact of police unions upon the police quest for professional status has been negative; and (4) police unions will play an important role in future occupational developments.