A positive image as an object of social perception of the commanders of the Traffic Police Road Patrol Service

Context and relevance. Modern realities and the severity of personnel problems in the internal affairs bodies place high demands on police officers who promote social norms. This circumstance, along with the lack of relevant scientific research, determines the urgency of studying a positive image that is of particular interest in the context of improving the activities and shaping a dignified image of Traffic Police Officers. Objective. to identify the dominant characteristics of a positive image as an image of social perception of the Heads of the Traffic Police Road Patrol Service. Hypotheses. The main hypotheses are formulated in the form of assumptions about the possibility of structuring a positive image and highlighting not only universal, but also distinctive high-ranking components inherent in the heads and inspectors of the traffic police service of the State Traffic Police. An additional hypothesis is the expectation of a clearly defined range of predominant elements of a positive image of the Inspectors of the Traffic Police Road Patrol Service. Methods and materials. The study involved 63 Heads of Departments of the Traffic Police Road Patrol Service representing different constituent entities of the Russian Federation. Methods of theoretical search (generalization of literature and analysis of regulatory legal acts), empirical methods of cognition (survey and analysis of specific situations), methods of statistical inference were applied. Results. Similar high-ranking elements of a positive image included legal literacy, neat uniform clothing, sociability, as well as endurance, balance, and self-control. Distinctive leading features included the ability to make the right decision in extreme situations (for managers) and good physical fitness (for inspectors). In turn, stress resistance was not among the most popular elements of a positive image of the Inspectors of the Traffic Police Road Patrol Service. Conclusions. The study achieved its goal by confirming the main hypotheses and partially validating the additional assumption. Further refinement of the list and ratio of the components of a positive image for this category of specialists is required. At the same time, it is advisable to create techniques for forming a positive image that demonstrate the social significance of the work of Traffic Police Officers and provide for their conscious professional development.