Campus Location
Dallas Campus (Online)
Date of Award
11-2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Department
Organizational Leadership
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Committee Chair or Primary Advisor
A. Ray Royalty
Second Committee Member or Secondary Advisor
Joe Perez
Third Committee Member or Committee Reader
Robert Voelkel
Abstract
The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological qualitative study was to explore the essence of the phenomenon between organizational culture and police officer job satisfaction among rural law enforcement agencies in Oklahoma. Retaining police officers has become an increasingly challenging task for law enforcement organizations across the United States, as high turnover, costly recruitment, and voluntary resignations continue to strain departments. While previous research has primarily examined demographic and occupational variables influencing satisfaction, limited attention has been given to how organizational culture affects the lived experiences of U.S. police officers. Guided by Edgar Schein’s organizational culture theory, this study examined how espoused values, specifically leadership and conflict management practices, influence the job satisfaction of police officers. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 10 CLEET-certified officers from rural agencies in Oklahoma. Data were analyzed through descriptive and in vivo coding to capture participants’ lived experiences. Three essential conclusions emerged: (a) leadership practices are central to cultural credibility and officer satisfaction, (b) recognition and meaningful involvement sustain morale and strengthen cultural buy-in, and (c) systemic and procedural inconsistencies erode trust and obstruct satisfaction. The findings emphasize the importance of intentional leadership visibility, authentic recognition, and systemic consistency as core strategies for boosting cultural alignment and police officers' job satisfaction.
Keywords: job satisfaction, leadership, organizational conflict, organizational culture, rural law enforcement, tribal law enforcement
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Palmer, Charles C., "The Heart of Policing: Exploring the Essence of the Phenomenon Between Organizational Culture and Police Officer Job Satisfaction" (2025). Digital Commons @ ACU, Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 964.
https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/etd/964