Police Officers Research Articles

Understaffed and beleaguered: a national survey of chiefs of police about the post-George Floyd era

PurposeThe 2020 murder of George Floyd resulted in challenges to policing in the United States of America, but little is known about how police chiefs perceive them. At the same time, chiefs of police wield great influence over public perceptions of crime and disorder, the state of their profession, the laws and policies that govern the conduct of police officers and municipal public safety budgets. It is therefore critical to understand how police perceive the changes to their profession post-Floyd.Design/methodology/approachThis study surveyed a randomly selected national sample of 276 municipal chiefs of police. Items probed resignations, recruitment, efforts to defund departments, community support, officer morale, suspects’ likelihood of obeying lawful orders and career risks that could inhibit proactive police work. It examined associations between perceptions and Census Bureau region, length of tenure as chief, size of police department, population served and the urban or rural designation of the jurisdiction.FindingsChiefs overwhelmingly reported recruiting qualified candidates had become much harder, and the present risks of proactive police work encourage inaction. Chiefs of agencies in the Northeast perceived more challenges than those in the South. Respondents with more years of experience were less likely to perceive the current situation as dire. Approximately 13.5% reported an attempt to defund their department, 56.8% of which yielded some success. Our study suggests an increase in the number and scope of challenges perceived by chiefs of police. Results vary by region and police chief years of experience.Originality/valueThis study provides researchers and practitioners with the perspectives of chiefs about the post-Floyd era that influence their decisions, policies and initiatives.

Preparing Police Officers to Provide First Aid to Casualties of Traffic Accidents

The author of the article presents the current situation in the Polish Police related to the preparation of police officers to provide first aid to casualties of traffic accidents. Based on the analysis of professional training programmes for police officers and programmes of specialized courses, as well as the results of evaluation studies conducted in the police, the author has attemptedto answer the question ‘whether the officers of the Polish police are properly prepared to provide first aid to people injured in traffic accidents.’ Media information on incidents in which police officers provided assistance to casualties of traffic accidents was also analysedStreszczenieAutor artykułu prezentuje obecną sytuację w polskiej Policji związaną z przygotowaniem funkcjonariuszy do niesienia pomocy ofiarom wypadków drogowych. Na podstawie analizy programów szkoleń zawodowych oraz programów kursów specjalistycznych, a także wyników badań ewaluacyjnych prowadzonych w Policji autor podjął próbę udzielenia odpowiedzi na pytanie, „czy funkcjonariusze polskiej Policji są prawidłowo przygotowani do niesienia pomocy ofiarom wypadków drogowych”. Analizie poddano także informacje medialne dotyczące zdarzeń, w których policjanci udzielali pomocy ofiarom wypadków drogowych.ResumenEl autor del artículo presenta la situación actual en la policía polaca relacionada con la preparación de los agentes para prestar asistencia a las víctimas de accidentes de tráfico. Sobre la base de un análisis de los programas de formación profesional y de los programas de cursos especializados, así como de los resultados de los estudios de evaluación realizados en la policía, el autor intentó responder a la pregunta „están los agentes de la policía polaca debidamente preparados para prestar asistencia a las víctimas de accidentes de tráfico?” También se analizó la información de los medios de comunicación sobre incidentes en los que los agentes de policía prestaron asistencia a víctimas de accidentes de tráfico.ZusammenfassungDer Autor des Artikels stellt die gegenwärtige Situation der polnischen Polizei dar, die mit der Vorbereitung der Polizeibeamten auf die Hilfeleistung für die Opfer der Verkehrsunfälle in Zusammenhang steht. Aufgrund der Analyse der innerhalb der Polizei durchgeführten beruflichen Schulungsprogramme und Programme der Fachkurse, als auch der Ergebnisse der Bewertungsstudien, unternimmt der Autor einen Versuch, die Frage zu beantworten, ob “die polnischen Polizeibeamten richtig dazu vorbereitet sind, die Hilfe für die Opfer der Verkehrsunfälle zu leisten.” Daneben wurden die Medieninformationen hinsichtlich der Ereignisse erforscht, in denen die Polizisten den Opfern der Verkehrsunfälle Hilfe geleistet haben.РезюмеАвтор статьи представляет текущую ситуацию польской полиции, связанную с подготовкой сотруд- ников полиции к оказанию первой помощи пострадавшим в дорожно-транспортных происшествиях. На основе анализа программ профессиональной подготовки и программ специализированных курсов, а также результатов оценочных исследований, проводимых в полиции, автор предпринял попытку ответить на вопрос Подготовлены ли сотрудники польской полиции надлежащим образом к оказанию помощи пострадавшим в дорожно-транспортных происшествиях?. Была также проанализирована информация СМИ о случаях оказания первой помощи жертвам ДТП сотрудниками полиции.

“You can't really turn it off”: The police “sixth sense” as cultural schema

AbstractA variety of concepts in the policing literature denote a so‐called “sixth sense” that police officers claim to possess. “Intuition,” “suspicion,” or “common sense” all specify a tacit knowledge said to heighten an officer's sensitivity to danger and potential suspects. This paper argues this type of knowledge exemplifies the application of “cultural schema” (DiMaggio, 1997): a shared knowledge structure that allows people to respond to environmental stimuli in ways that render their lives more predictable. We combine two case studies—one in Canada, the other in the Netherlands—which include ethnographic field notes and 199 interviews with police officers, to reconsider the police sixth sense in light of theoretical and empirical advances in cultural sociology and cognition research. This paper further discusses the benefit of studying this sixth sense itself as a form of cultural knowledge—that is, as “police culture”—to improve our understanding of cultural resources most or least compatible with emerging police reforms.

The impact of weather on the racial composition of traffic stop and citation issuance in the United States

ABSTRACT We analyze how adverse weather influences the racial composition of traffic stops and the issuance of citations within the context of administrative discretion. The behavior of police officers and drivers may be affected by weather, leading to a change in the composition of stopped drivers. If changes in racial composition are due to police officers choosing to forego traffic stops because those are more costly in wet conditions, it could indicate racial bias. Based on data from 37 city and 11 state police departments, our analysis reveals that the racial composition of drivers stopped and the probability of a citation being issued are not independent of adverse weather conditions, especially for state agencies. These findings contribute to the existing literature on factors influencing police–citizen interactions and provide a foundation for investigating the potential connections among weather, administrative discretion, and racial bias.

Legal Analysis Of Handling The Criminal Acts Of Circulation And Use Of Counterfeit Rupiah Curriculum

This thesis discusses the handling of criminal acts of using and circulating counterfeit rupiah banknotes, with a focus on law enforcement efforts by the Riau Islands Regional Police. This research is motivated by the increasing cases of counterfeit rupiah banknotes in the Riau Islands which cause significant losses to the community and threaten regional economic stability. The main objective of this study is to analyze the effectiveness of law enforcement carried out by local police, as well as to identify and overcome obstacles faced in the process. The research method used is a qualitative approach, with data collection techniques through in-depth interviews, participatory observations, and documentation studies. The sample of this study consisted of police officers, legal experts, and victims of counterfeiting money. Data analysis was carried out using content analysis techniques to interpret the collected data, based on the framework of the theory of legal certainty from Sudikno Mertokusumo, the theory of legal systems from Lawrence M. Friedman, and the theory of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED). The results show that law enforcement against rupiah counterfeiting in the Riau Islands faces several major obstacles, including limited resources, inter-agency coordination problems, and a lack of adequate training for law enforcement officers.The suggestions resulting from this study include increasing the allocation of resources, both in the form of equipment and training for officers, as well as strengthening cooperation between institutions involved in law enforcement, to increase effectiveness in identifying, preventing, and cracking down on the crime of using and circulating counterfeit money.

Implicit bias training for police: Evaluating impacts on enforcement disparities.

The purpose of this study was to estimate the behavioral impacts of training police officers in implicit bias awareness and management. Training police in implicit bias reduces racial and ethnic disparities in stops, arrests, summonses, frisks, searches, and/or use of force. A cluster randomized controlled trial using the stepped wedge design was applied to 14,471 officers in the New York City Police Department, with a 1-day training delivered to clusters of police commands between May 2018 and April 2019 and outcomes measured with police records of individual events from April 2018 to May 2019. Police records were supplemented with survey data on 1,973 officers matched to administrative data. For each type of enforcement action, the likelihood that the action involved or was taken against Black or Hispanic suspects, respectively, relative to White suspects was estimated, controlling for potential confounders. Additional analysis allowed for estimating training effects of different magnitudes for Black, Hispanic, and White officers and for officers with greater motivation to act without prejudice or greater concern about discrimination. None of the estimated training effects achieved statistical significance at the .05 level. Isolated and weak evidence of behavioral impacts of the training was detected. Several explanations for the null findings are considered. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

(Post-)Colonial Violence: Ripper Street and Moral Injury

The period crime drama Ripper Street (BBC/multiple production partners, 2012–2016) engages in a variety of postcolonial sociocultural critiques. One of these areas of critique includes the moral injury/-ies suffered by Sergeant (later Inspector) Bennet Drake (played by Jerome Flynn), who served in Sudan and Egypt as part of the colonial military before becoming a police officer. Often called upon to engage in what would now be considered police brutality, Drake’s increasingly ambivalent relationship to violence, those who command (or have commanded) him, and the expressions of shame and self-harm he exhibits make him a clear victim of moral injury. This article will explore how Drake is represented, and also how he is representative of returning soldiers, contextualised in both colonial (contemporary to the period in which the series is set) and postcolonial (contemporary to the period in which it was filmed) critique.

Being watched: The aftermath of covert policing

AbstractThe ongoing Undercover Policing Inquiry (UCPI) is largely a response to a stream of national media scandals that exposed the illegal and unethical behaviour of undercover police officers in two secretive units. The testimony of those who were the targets of undercover operations has further exposed the human costs stemming from the personalised and highly invasive surveillance undertaken by anonymous state agents. In this article, we reflect upon the existing research on covert policing and identify new areas for conceptual and methodological engagement, with a view to better understanding the harms that these secretive operations can generate. Attending to the inherent and inescapable intimacy of covert policing offers a much‐needed opportunity to explore the effects of a unique state practice that can radically alter the lives of individual surveillance subjects, and which tests our conventional understandings of the legitimacy and limits of force, coercion and police power.

Анализ и оптимизация нормативно-правовой базы в области применения огнестрельного оружия сотрудниками полиции

The article analyzes the provisions of the key act in this area — the Federal Law “On Police”, concerning the grounds and procedure for the use of firearms by police officers, with a parallel appeal to criminal law norms regulating the circumstances, the identification of which levels the criminal nature of the act. Based on the practice of law enforcement, it is concluded that the key problem in this area is the assessment of the legality of the actions of a police officer when using firearms. Recommendations are proposed for improving and specifying the regulatory regulation of the conditions and procedure for the use of firearms by employees of the internal affairs bodies of the Russian Federation to give the missing certainty and clarity.

Los Factores asociados al uso progresivo de la fuerza policial en Ecuador

The continuous growth of insecurity in the country questions the performance of the National Police in guaranteeing order and internal security in the country, especially due to the controversial cases of inaction and extralimitation in the use of force in recent years. In this sense, the present research work sought to determine the explanatory factors associated with the extralimitation and limitation of the progressive use of force by police officers working in Subzone No. 11 Loja. Therefore, 165 police officers belonging to the Loja subzone were surveyed and the chi-squared test and Fisher's exact test were used to identify whether there are statistically significant relationships between categorical variables. It was identified that the factors associated with the limitation of the progressive use of force are: understanding of the regulations on the use of lethal force, the perception of human rights (they contribute to the police officer acting in strict compliance with the law), legal responsibility and poor staffing; while the factors associated with excessive actions are the perception of article 293 of the COIP and the frequency with which police officers receive training.

The Hot Summer of 1939. Polish and Czechoslovak Military Intelligence on the Eve of the Outbreak of War in the Light of Reports by Polish Officers

The Hot Summer of 1939. Polish and Czechoslovak Military Intelligence on the Eve of the Outbreak of War in the Light of Reports by Polish Officers

“We Can’t Work With Them, We Can’t Work Without Them”: The Police-Victim Advocacy Nexus in Processing Sexual Offenses in the Nigerian Justice System

Previous studies posited that survivors of rape receive better treatment from the police when advocates are involved and the police embrace collaboration. However, the collaborative relationship between the Nigerian police and rape victim advocates has yet to receive scholarly attention. To address this, a qualitative study was conducted, with 24 police officers of sexual offense units in six Police Commands, and 50 rape victim advocates from 28 advocacy groups. A thematic analysis of the narratives was carried out. Findings indicated problematic police-advocate collaboration in the process of reporting, interviewing, investigating, and prosecuting rape cases. Advocates stated that officers exhibited rape myth acceptance. Officers stated that advocates often display aggressive approaches in interfering with interviews, are ignorant of police procedures, and often wrongly accuse officers of corrupt practices. These findings have important practical, policy, and further research implications if criminal justice efficiencies and ideal victim support services are to be achieved.

Comparison of Workplace Posture on Heart Rate Variability between Exercising and Non-Exercising Traffic Police

Background: This study aimed to investigate heart rate variability among traffic police officers and compare these parameters between exercising and non-exercising groups. Heart rate variability is an important marker of cardiac autonomic function. Understanding the impact of exercise on heart rate variability among traffic police officers can provide valuable insights into strategies for improving their cardiovascular well-being. Materials and Methods: This comparative correctional study was conducted among forty-two healthy traffic police officers. The participants were divided into exercising and non-exercising groups based on their physical activity levels. Heart rate variability was measured using standard technique. Data was analysed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS version 16. The heart rate variability values were non parametric. So, data were expressed as median interquartile range and comparison between two groups was done with Mann-Whitney U test. p<0.05 was considered significant. Results: The results revealed that a higher proportion of traffic police officers were in the exercising group. Heart rate variability analysis showed significantly higher median values of RMSSD (58.42 ms vs. 41.30 ms), NN50 (80.00 vs. 24.00), pNN50% (36.56% vs. 11.820%) and HF power (1079.40 ms² vs. 368.000 ms²) in the exercising group. Additionally, the exercising group exhibited a lower LF/HF ratio (0.61 vs. 1.60). Although not statistically significant, heart rate was less in exercising group (73.61±6.93bpmvs. 72.93± 7.79bpm). Conclusion: The study suggests that even with prolonged workplace posture, exercise among traffic police can have higher heart rate variability and parasympathetic dominance, a positive indicator for cardiovascular health.

Does Being a HERO Really Make a Positive Difference to Police Officer Street Level Bureaucrats’ Well-Being?

This study examines the extent to which being a HERO (i.e., Hope, Efficacy, Resilience, and Optimism) impacts police officer Street Level Bureaucrats (SLBs) operational and organizational stress, and their subsequent perceived well-being. The sample comprised 220 Italian and 228 English SLBs, and hypotheses were tested using the Analysis for Moment Structures (AMOS) v.27 Structural Equation Modeling software. The findings depict that HERO explains approximately a fifth of SLBs’ organizational stress, and together, their variance accounted for approximately two-thirds of SLBs’ well-being. Finally, as one personal psychological resource for helping police officers cope with stress in the workplace, the findings indicate a need to upskill SLBs in HERO to better negotiate bureaucratic processes without becoming more susceptible to negative stress-related outcomes.

Empowering justice: female police officers’ perspectives on advocating for female victims in South Korea

ABSTRACT We conducted qualitative research in South Korea by interviewing female police officers to gain insight into the processes of female representation. The findings show that female officers generally accept representative roles for female victims. Still, such determination can manifest through various behaviours, which may not always translate into tangible law enforcement outcomes. Additionally, the male-dominant culture in police organizations may not directly affect female officers’ advocacy but may reduce their work morale, indirectly impacting their advocacy behaviour. We emphasize that the concept of active representation is not fixed, and various contextual factors can influence it.

Police officers’ perception of mentally disordered people: a national survey in Japan

ABSTRACT The treatment of offenders with mental disorders is an important issue in forensic mental health. In most countries, police officers working in the community are the first to deal with patients at risk of harming themselves or others. However, police officers’ perceptions and opinions of their practice in dealing with such patients have not been adequately investigated in Japan. We conducted a national survey to gather police officers’ opinions regarding their diversion practice for people with mental disorders and interorganizational collaboration. A total of 241 police officers participated in the study. Many participants were aware of the national mental health care scheme of administrative involuntary hospitalization in their daily work. However, many participants complained about public health centers and psychiatrists. These complaints seem to stem partly from the differences between organizational structures, lack of resources, and communication gaps. Many participants felt they lacked the opportunity to learn more about mental health literacy. Better collaborative care for people with mental disorders requires mutual relationships between the police, public health centers, and psychiatrists to promote a deeper understanding of community mental health.

Proposed Strategic Framework for Specialized Police Training Program towards Enhancing Police Performance in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi Police is currently experiencing severe decline in officer performance Thus, reviewing the police training programme has been viewed as urgent and deemed necessary to enhance the performance. This study presents a strategic framework that highlights the vitality of specialized training programs to enhance police performance in Abu Dhabi. The results may help to affirm relationship between specialist training program, human technology capability development, and police officers’ performance. The strategic framework may be instrumental to Abu Dhabi Police Department to prepare their police force with specialized training programs and human technology capacity.

Implementation Of Restorative Justice Approach In The Settlement Of Narcotics Crime Cases

The phenomenon of narcotics abuse is a serious problem that requires special handling, especially in Indonesia. Traditional approaches that emphasize criminal punishment have not proven to be fully effective in resolving this problem. This study examines the implementation of the restorative justice approach in resolving narcotics crime cases at the Bintan Police. The restorative justice approach emphasizes victim rehabilitation, perpetrator rehabilitation, and reconciliation between perpetrators and victims as an alternative to prison sentences. The purpose of this study is to analyze the legal arrangements that support the restorative justice approach in narcotics cases, evaluate the implementation of this approach in the Bintan Police, as well as identify the obstacles faced and formulate relevant solutions. The research method used is a qualitative method with a case study approach, involving in-depth interviews with police officers, medical personnel, and other related parties, as well as analysis of applicable legal documents and policies. The results of the study show that although there are efforts to implement a restorative justice approach in the Bintan Police, the implementation is not optimal. The main obstacles faced include a lack of adequate rehabilitation facilities, limited understanding among law enforcement officials, and social stigma against narcotics addicts. The study found that better coordination between institutions, intensive training and socialization, and improved rehabilitation facilities are needed to overcome these barriers. Based on these findings, the suggestions given include increasing the capacity and quality of rehabilitation facilities by the government, further training for police officers on restorative justice approaches, and educational campaigns for the community to reduce stigma against narcotics addicts. With these steps, it is hoped that the restorative justice approach can be applied more effectively, providing a more humane and recovery-oriented solution in handling narcotics cases at the Bintan Police.

Effectiveness Of Restorative Justice In Traffic Accident Case Settlement And Its Implications For The Parties Involved

Traffic accidents are a severe problem that significantly impacts people's safety and well-being. In Indonesia, the restorative justice approach has been adopted as an alternative to resolving traffic accident cases, which aims to restore the relationship between the perpetrator and the victim and reduce the burden on the criminal justice system. This study focuses on the effectiveness of the implementation of restorative justice by the Bintan Subregional Police in resolving traffic accident cases in Batam City, as well as its implications for the parties involved. This study aims to analyze how the application of restorative justice can affect the settlement of traffic accident cases, assess the effectiveness of this approach, and identify relevant obstacles and solutions to optimize its implementation. The research method used is qualitative, collecting data through in-depth interviews, observations, and document analysis. The research respondents comprised police officers, victims, perpetrators, and community leaders involved in the mediation process. The study results show that implementing restorative justice by the Bintan Subregional Police has excellent potential to create a fairer and more satisfactory settlement for all parties involved. However, its effectiveness is still hampered by limited resources and training for the police, lack of public understanding, and suboptimal coordination between institutions. The proposed solutions include increasing training programs for police officers, drafting more detailed regulations, and intensifying socialization to the public about the benefits and processes of restorative justice. The study suggests that police forces increase training and resources, communities are more active in supporting this approach, and governments develop regulations that support and improve coordination between agencies. By overcoming these obstacles, the application of restorative justice in resolving traffic accident cases can be more effective and provide more significant benefits to the community, as well as increase trust in the criminal justice system in Indonesia.

Unmet medical needs and influencing factors among Korean police officers: a cross-sectional survey

ObjectivesSouth Korea grapples with a disproportionately high incidence of unmet medical needs, a concern that is particularly acute among police officers, who are exposed to significant occupational risks. Given the...