Sources of Police Culture and Factors that go into the Development of Field’s Culture Sources of police culture are derived from the hazards of police work (Paoline, 2003, p. 202). In summary, Paoline, (2003) states that the significance of understanding police culture rests in the role that it plays in their environments. There are two main environments police officers deal with on an everyday basis. These are occupational environment and organizational environment. Occupational environment consists of the officer’s relationship to society. Organizational environment consists of the officer’s relationship to the formal organization. Ultimately, both occupational environment and organizational environment contribute to police culture: social isolation and loyalty (pp. 199-205)
Factors that go into the development of the occupational culture As previously stated, occupational environment deals with the officer’s relationship with society. The most widely cited elements of this environment are the presence or potential for danger and the license to legitimately use coercion. The danger and the given coercive authority create stress and anxiety for the officers. Thus, they have to resource to coping mechanisms such as suspiciousness and maintaining the edge. In an effort to reduce or control the uncertainty associated with the dangers of the job, officers are said to be suspicious actors. Not only are officers suspicious of the general public but they are also suspicious of the new recruits because they represent a potential breakdown in group cohesion. In the same token, maintaining the edge is related to the officer’s ability to display their authority on the citizens. Officers learn to sort citizens into categories based on the potential danger: suspicious persons, rude and know-nothings. Suspiciousness and maintaining the edge ultimately leads to social isolation and loyalty among peers. Due to this separation between the police and the public, officers tend to identify and socialize exclusively with other officers and thus, develop the idea of “we versus them.” This worldview, “we versus them” fosters both isolation from society and a stronger loyalty among peers (Paoline, 2003, pp. 200-205).
Factors that go into the development of the organizational culture Organizational environment consists of the officer’s relationship to the formal organization. The organizational environment subjects the officers to supervisor scrutiny and role ambiguity. These two as well as the occupational environment, contribute to stress for the officer. Two stress’ coping mechanisms that stem from officer’s organizational environment are: lay-low and crime fighter. The lay-low mechanism discourages officers from engaging in efforts that might bring undue attention to themselves. The crime fighter mechanism encourages officers to place police work over order maintenance and service roles. The lay-low and the crime fighter mechanism create police professionalization. The professionalization of the police is a factor that also contributes to isolation and at the same time facilitates strong group loyalty (Paoline, 2003, pp. 202-205). In conclusion, ultimately, both occupational environment and organizational environment contribute to police culture: social isolation and loyalty.

Reference
Paoline, Eugene A. "Taking Stock: Toward a Richer Understanding of Police Culture." Journal of Criminal Justice 31.3 (2003): 199-214. Web. 1 Oct. 2015.