Police and Culture

Why do many police officers appear to be cold, condescending and matter of fact and sometimes seem to lack compassion. Police officers represent a source of power that often is not readily understood by many in society. Agencies play a necessary, critical role in the preservation of public order and safety but have often been the target of complaint and criticism by the media and others in helping professions.

Dr. Stephen Hennessy, a Hibbing born, Minnesota native, is a 40 year law enforcement professional and University Professor who has studied thousands of police personalities and ways of communicating based on the famous Psychologist Carl Jung theories of personality type as measured by the Myers Briggs Type Indicator, the Law Enforcement Personality Profile and other instruments.

His thirty years of research may help explain why officers may appear that way but really aren’t as heartless as one might think.

Dr. Hennessy began his law enforcement career as an intern in the FBI in 1962. Officed across from J. Edgar Hoover’s office at that time. Joined the FBI’s Denver Field Office in 1964 and, as a Special Agent transferred to Houston Texas and Newark New Jersey. Joined the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension in 1973, served as Director of the Cooperative Area Narcotics Squad based in Duluth until appointed Assistant Superintendent of the BCA in 1977. Retired to Scottsdale Arizona in 1991. Joined the Phoenix Police Dept., as Training Administrator in 1993 to retirement in 2003.Appointed Associate Professor of Criminal Justice at St. Cloud State University retiring in 2016.

Holds a BSBA from University of Denver and a Masters and Doctorate degree from The University of St. Thomas, St. Paul