How Does One Become a Police Officer? 1982–2003: Socio-demographic Evolutions and Multiple Motivations

This paper discusses the reasons people join the police force. It takes socio-demographic and vocational factors into account. This analysis compares the results of a survey (N=5015), which revealed differences between young and old generations of police officers, different ranks of officers, and differences between the sexes. This survey also revealed constant factors and changes in police recruiting over the last 20 years. A logistic regression was conducted in order to determinate the variables that influence this occupational decision (realism, adventure, helping people, rigorist) for the purpose of establishing links with a more or less repressive conception of police work and between primary and occupational socialization.