This study examined associations established to serve the interests of law enforcement officers. The problem investigated is stated in this chapter, and ancillary information related to the problem is investigated.
The history of law enforcement officers associations in the United States dates to the founding of the New York Police Benevolent Association in 1894 (Ray, 1977, pp. 40-48). The activities of these associations in the contemporary period range from the representation of members in labor negotiations to efforts to protect members against charges made by governmental officers and the general public in relation to corruption and brutality to the provision of insurance and other benefits to members (Mitchell, 1994, p. A29; Sexton, 1994b, p. A1; Retiree, 1994, pp. 237-238).
While activities such as those described above are generally perceived in a favorable light, there are underlying concerns over the accountability or lack thereof of associations representing law enforcement officers (Baker, 1993, pp. 25-42). Within the context of this issue, the charge is that the officers of law enforcement officers associations "have almost no accountability to the public, the police brass, or the rank and file of an association's members" (Baker, 1993, p. 26). Accountability is a major issue in the contemporary period in relation to each of the major areas of activity of associations representing law enforcement officers--labor negotiations, the protection of law enforcement officer members, and the provision of benefits to members. The accountability of associations representing law enforcement officers was investigated through the conduct of this study.
For more than 50 years, associations representing law enforcement officers in the United States acted primarily as social clubs, benefit associations, and as legislative watchdogs vigilant to protect the interests of members (Ray, 1977, pp. 40-48). During this earlier per...