A legitimacy crisis? Exploring the relationships between police self-legitimacy, employee engagement, and civic engagement. (2nd January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wuestewald, Mary I
• Is Part Of: Police practice & research. Volume 23:Number 1(2022)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 19
• Publication Date: 2022-01-02
• Subjects: Police self-legitimacy -- employee engagement -- civic engagement; Police -- Periodicals; Police administration -- Periodicals; Law enforcement -- Periodicals; Crime prevention -- Periodicals; 363.2
• DOI: 10.1080/15614263.2021.1984913
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1561-4263

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Researchers have recently started exploring the antecedents and outcomes of police officers' confidence in their own authority, a concept termed self-legitimacy. Investigation into officer self-legitimacy is relatively new, but it has been linked to a number of desirable behaviors, including organizational commitment and democratic policing styles. The current study examined the relationships between officer self-legitimacy, employee engagement, and civic engagement. Such associations are important because greater employee engagement is associated with higher motivation and better work performance. Civic engagement, in particular, may be critical for effective policing. These relationships were investigated using survey data from four police departments in Arkansas and Oklahoma ( N = 132). Results from multivariate models revealed officers with greater self-legitimacy reported more employee engagement and attitudes supportive of civic engagement. In combination with existing literature, findings underscore the likelihood that maintaining police self-legitimacy is associated with additional benefits for officers, organizations, and communities.