Abstract
A case study was conducted within a cooperating municipal police agency, where there was the perception that women and minorities were not succeeding in the promotional process. A three-phased triangulation approach employing two surveys and focus group methods was utilised to gather data. Findings indicated that over 80 per cent of the promotion-eligible officers, both white and black, were not interested in promotion to sergeant. The major reasons were satisfaction with present assignment, followed by family obligations. Findings also indicated that proportionately slightly more minority candidates participate in the promotional process, but their average score was lower than the average obtained by white competitors. Further analysis revealed a sense of helplessness and hopelessness among many of the minority respondents and focus group participants. Analysis of test preparation strategies revealed that whites tended to devote more days to examination preparation and engaged in a richer variety of study methods (eg practice quizzes, outlining chapters and using flash cards). These data suggest that the department should take steps to make the position of sergeant more attractive to a greater number of officers and make a more concerted effort to monitor and understand minority and women's issues. Minority candidates need to be effectively apprised of the effort required to score well on the promotional examination, engage in a greater number of study methods over a greater number of days, and minority command officers need to assume a leadership role in the mentoring of minority promotional candidates.
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