Abstract
Recognizing a gap in the African policing literature created due to the lack of research on police officers attitudes toward the public, the present study was conducted to bridge this gap by examining officers perceptions of the public and to determine whether such perceptions influence officers behavior on the street and their perception of effectiveness. Using a randomized sample of 145 police officers selected from five police districts in Accra, Ghana, the study found that police officers in Ghana generally hold negative views of the public they serve. Findings also revealed that officers perception of public cooperation significantly predict their behavior and perception of effectiveness in controlling crime in the community. However, officers perceptions of public recognition and compliance with the rule of law were not found to predict their behavior and perception of effectiveness. Policy implications of the findings were discussed.
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