Achieving congruence between individual commitment to policing and organizational objectives in police departments

The purpose of this qualitative research study was to present a grounded theory that explores how different organizational relationships affect how well individual commitments to policing of officers in Northern Arizona agree with the organizational objectives of police departments. 20 sworn police officers were interviewed to describe the organizational relationships that exist in their respective police departments. The results of this study revealed that officers are called to police work to satisfy a need to represent the law, protect victims, and confront the lawless. Police seek out knowledge and opportunities that improve their chances at making meaningful contacts. Individual police officers’ commitments to policing are personal, and successful police managers capitalize on this understanding to guide their employees toward desired behavior