Although the psychological and sociological paradigms offer important points in explaining police character, the anthropological paradigm offers the most complete explanation. The process by which police character is shaped begins with the selection process, continues during training at the police academy, and is further solidified when officers enter the police working environment.
Police are members of a unique occupational subculture.
This subculture provides officers with a unique worldview and working personality. The police worldview emphasizes the need to distrust non-police, the threat of constant danger in police work, and the idea that police are society's most important weapon in ensuring social order. This worldview provides police with a cognitive lens though which they interpret society, the police institution, situations, and events. 5. The police subculture emphasizes certain ethos representing those ideas valued most by officers. The ethos of bravery is a central component of the police character.