U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Library & Multimedia
 Police Turnover in Isolated Communities: The Alaska Experience
NCJ Number
              186187
Journal

*National Institute of Justice Journal* Dated: January 2001 Pages: 16-23
Author(s)
          Darryl  Wood
Date Published

January 2001
Length
              8 pages
Publication Series
          NIJ Journal
Annotation
              This article presents findings from a study of factors related to officer turnover in the Alaska Village Public Safety Officer (VPSO) program.
Abstract
              Data for this study came primarily from Alaska Department of Public Safety records for 1978 through 1999 and self-administered surveys from 113 (of a possible 184) current and former VPSO's who  served between 1994 and 1998. The VPSO program is a prime example of a community policing program: (1) policing authority is decentralized at the community level; (2) VPSO's are encouraged to use problem solving techniques; (3) the generalist policing role stresses the complexities of public safety and social order to address all causes of disorder and threats to welfare; and (4) participation of the community is built into the program's organizational structure. However, the program has had an annual average turnover rate of 55 percent, roughly 10 times greater than urban police departments across the country. Possible explanations for officer turnover include job stress, dissatisfaction with salary and benefits, difficulties associated with applying non-Native policing arrangements in Native communities using Native employees, and sociodemographic characteristics such as age and marital status. Officers are more likely to stay in the program if they are grounded in the Alaska Native culture, serve in their home villages, serve with other police officers (either village police officers or tribal police), and are married. Suggested ways police administrators can reduce the turnover rates in their departments include hiring locally, hiring culturally, strengthening ties to the community, and strengthening ties to the police culture. Figure, notes
      
  
          Additional Details
Agencies
        NIJ


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Report (Study/Research)
    
  
  
Date Published: January 1, 2001
    
          Downloads
        
                      PDF

Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              NIJ Journal
    
      
            
            
            
      Podcasts
    
      
            
            
            
      Publications Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Multimedia Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Software & Databases
    
      
            
            
            
      Datasets
    
      
            
            
            
      PatentsRelated Topics
        
                Community policing
        Minority police
        Personnel Retention
        Police
        Police occupational stress



  
Similar Publications
        
                      “Roses have thorns for a reason”: The promises and perils of critical youth participatory research with system-impacted girls of Color
                  Results from an effectiveness evaluation of anti-bias training on police behavior and public perceptions of discrimination
                  Using Science To Enhance Equity
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov