The departure of academically qualified police officers

Abstract

The departure of academically qualified police officers is not an issue restricted solely to the Icelandic context. Numerous international studies have addressed this concern, yet the voluntary resignation of police officers within Iceland remains largely underexplored. This research endeavor seeks to examine the underlying reasons that motivated the departure of academically qualified police officers between the years 2007 and 2022 and to explore potential strategies for enhancing the human resources within the profession. Employing a qualitative approach, the study relies on semi-structured interviews with sixteen former police officers. To enrich the depth of inquiry and gain managerial perspectives, interviews were also conducted with three senior police administrators. While the narratives of the participants varied, four primary determinants of attrition emerged: managerial practices, job satisfaction levels, workplace environment, and work-related strain and stress. Among the criteria indicated above, management-related problems were deemed most significant. The interviewees expressed concerns regarding unprofessional management practises, communication barriers, perceived inequity, unprofessional hiring practises, and limited prospects for career advancement. The work ethic was reportedly perceived as unfavourable, marked by prejudiced attitudes and, resulting in a decrease in overall job satisfaction. Others elaborated on the impact that a negative work environment had on their decision to resign. It was also made clear by all the interviewees that management practises needed to be significantly improved within the police. The findings additionally suggest that the police administration has knowledge of the factors contributing to the phenomenon of intentions to quit, although no efforts have been undertaken to mitigate its occurrence.