This research applied the job characteristics model of job design to two urban police departments in the Northeast and examined enrichment of the police job as it relates to community policing and higher education. The overall motivating potential of the police job was found to be low. Generally, detectives reported higher scores for all job characteristics except task significance. Officers from the department that was observed to be more advanced in implementing community policing reported significantly higher scores for skill variety, task identity, task significance, and autonomy. Level of education did not make a significant difference in officers' responses.
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