Turnover Among Alaska Village Public Safety Officers, 1994-1999

The study was designed to examine the high turnover rate in Alaska's Village Public Safety Officers (VPSO) program. The goals were to help guide the design of future delivery of public safety services to Alaska villages and to add to what was a limited understanding of policing in places with tiny populations. The survey instrument was administered to former and currently-serving VPSOs from October 1998 to January 1999. Information was collected on the respondent's motivation for becoming a VPSO, length of time working as a VPSO, if the respondent was satisfied with the pay, retirement benefits, training, housing, and safety, if it was difficult for the respondent to enforce laws against relatives, the respondent's perception of the community's support and expectations, and their job-related stresses, role conflicts, duties, and demands. Those who had left the job were also asked about their post-VPSO employment. Demographic variables include the respondent's age, race, sex, marital status, education, military experience, and whether the officer was an Alaska Native.