Date of Award

5-2018

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Department

Executive Leadership

First Supervisor

Shelley Jallow

Second Supervisor

Jennifer Schulman

Abstract

The negative and hostile relationship between African American communities and the police has sparked public outrage over police mistreatment of African Americans that has led to the constant call for increasing representation of African American officers to quell police- minority tensions. Some researchers argue that as a result of the recurrent problems between the police and African Americans, the police department is challenged with the recruitment of African American males as law enforcement officers. The purpose of this study was to examine the factors that influence Black male police officers to pursue a career in policing in the New York City Police Department (NYPD). For this study, the researcher uses the term Black and African American interchangeably, since both terms are meant to be inclusive of all others of African descent without regard to their ethnicity or national origin. This study employed a qualitative methodology to explore the perception of nine African American males that have chosen a career in the New York City Police Department (NYPD). The data was analyzed and the findings revealed that perception of fit (agreement between personal values and organizational values) is considered when making the career decision of police officer for African American males in the NYPD. Moreover, African American males are cognizant that their racial identity influenced their perception of fit. The emergent themes were classified under three major categories: values, self-identity, and career choice and benefits. Recommendations include developing a formal mentorship program and considering the importance of the investigator in forming a positive a perception of organizational values for the NYPD.

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