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recruiters to target culturally diverse people who come from common job training or life

experiences, or worldviews (Weiss, 2010). If common denominators are available in the

form of experiences in life, then recruiters can better predict those candidates that would

make more appropriate employees in the future (Keech, et al., 2020). This will also allow

recruiters avoid hiring those who may require more intensive or a different type of

training (Gibbs, et al., 2020).

The gaps identified in previous research are finding those traits amongst the

officers considered to be the higher performers, also the need to reevaluate the work done

previously to update the traits that fit the new demands society has placed on law

enforcement.

Framework

Various forms of trait theory have been developed over the years by the study of

psychologists trying to better understand the personality of humans (Scheffer &

Heckhausen, 2018). Defining and labeling character traits are important because a

researcher can identify certain reactions to prompts that determine the behavior pattern of

an individual (Hiriyappa, 2018). These traits generally are consistent throughout the

lifetime of the person. The study will also examine the applicability and usefulness of

whole trait theory (WTT) and self-determination theory (SDT) in identifying those

desired traits. WTT serves as a model of character traits identifiable when people react to

different situations (Jayawickreme, et al., 2019). SDT observes how people react to a

given situation to determine if the reaction is self-motivated and self-determined

(Prentice, et al., 2019).