Police Officers Research Articles

Роль родителей в профессиональном самоопределении детей

The article analyzes the role of parents in children’s professional self-determination. The authors conducted a sociological survey among graduates of pedagogical, medical, and technical universities in Yaroslavl. The results showed that key factors in professional self-identification are family values and a reference person, rather than the opinions of friends or advertising in the media. Children from families with a service-oriented mission (e.g., teachers, military personnel, firefighters, police officers, healthcare workers) typically follow their parents’ life path. The majority of students surveyed acknowledged that their parents’ opinion plays an important role in their choice of future education and profession. However, only a small number of parents preferred to stay out of the way when it comes to choosing their children's educational and professional path. The study revealed that the professional goals of most children from doctor’s families coincided with those of their parents. On the other hand, students who entered university under parental coercion were found to have lower academic performance. These students are more likely to suffer from stress, apathy and alcohol dependence compared to those who independently and consciously chose their place of study. Students who, thanks to their parents’ support, actively developed through after-school activities (for example, dance or sports), quickly identified their strengths and weaknesses, and consciously chose their university and future profession. The author notes that medical education is an elite and inherited profession, as many students in medical universities have family members related to medicine. Obviously, in the context of social change, it's difficult to find a stable, well-respected, well-paying job that allows for social connections.

The effect of an 8-week fitness regime on low back pain and core strength in high-risk professionals.

Low back pain is prevalent among various populations and greatly impacts their quality of life. Professions that incorporate several working hours combined with heavy labor are the most affected. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of an 8-week core training intervention in emergency personnel. Sixteen randomly selected male participants; police officers (N.=8) and firefighters (N.=8) (mean age: 40.75 years; mean height: 177.69 cm; mean body mass: 85.50 kg) performed various testing procedures that assessed core muscle strength and endurance and filled the Oswestry Disability Index Questionnaire regarding the level of low back pain before and after the intervention. The 8-week intervention consisted of two 45-60-minute sessions per week that included ten core-related exercises. Statistical analysis; paired samples t-test and Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test, demonstrated significant effects in the 30-sec sit-up test, the Double Leg Lowering Test and the isometric abdominal strength measurements; p value level of significance was set at P≤0.05. All participants had minimal lower back disability before and after the intervention. The results demonstrated that the prescribed regime could improve core strength and endurance in high-risk professionals. The most important finding is that training interventions for emergency personnel are most effective when they incorporate a variety of exercises that target the core musculature in all planes of movement and engage the whole range of motion.

Obesidade abdominal está associado com níveis de estresse em militares

Introduction: The modern lifestyle, marked by an intense routine and inadequate diet, contributes to the increase in Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), especially obesity, which can be influenced by stress. The relationship between stress, nutritional status and NCDs lacks comprehensive studies, especially when it concerns public security professionals. Objective: To evaluate the abdominal obesity and its association with stress symptoms in military personnel in the metropolitan region of a Brazilian capital. Methods: The study is part of the "SOMA-SI" program, which investigated the health of public security agents in Espírito Santo between April and December 2022. The sample included police officers, firefighters and municipal guards (n=213). Healthy adult military personnel were included and those on leave or under psychiatric treatment were excluded. Among the variables measured were blood pressure measurements, anthropometric assessment and Lipp Stress Symptom Inventory. The Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) v. 25 for Windows® was used for statistical analyses. Chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests were performed at 5% significance, exploring associations between categorical variables and differences in median stress scores. Results: The sample consisted of 216 participants, predominantly men (75.5%) and non-white (63.7%), revealing 61.6% with more than 15 years of work, 81.1% with income above six salaries minimum and 77.3% with completed higher education. Military police officers represented the majority (67.6%), with 72.2% being parents, 57.9% alcohol consumers and 9.3% smokers. The majority had excess body fat (70.8%) and weight (77.3%). Statistical associations were observed between waist perimeter and stress symptoms (p = 0.004). Conclusion: The study revealed an association between abdominal adiposity and stress in military personnel, highlighting the high incidence of stress symptoms and excess weight in the sample. Associations were also identified between blood glucose, blood pressure and demographic factors. However, it highlights the importance of more comprehensive studies to understand the impact of stress on the health of security agents.

The Importance of Listening in Police-Community Dialogue: Insights From the Hearts and Minds Initiative in Trinidad and Tobago

Community policing relies on communication and dialogue to break down barriers between police and communities. Community policing is implicitly premised on the notion that for relationships between police and communities to improve, both sides need to find ways to accommodate one another. These ideas are consistent with Communication Accommodation Theory (CAT), which focuses on the communicative mechanisms through which people accommodate or fail to accommodate one another. Genuine listening is a key mechanism for accommodating others. Drawing on CAT, we explore a community policing initiative called Hearts and Minds that was developed and implemented in Trinidad and Tobago, a Caribbean nation that has experienced a significant outbreak of violence over the past two decades. Our qualitative analysis relies on interviews with police officers. Based on this analysis, we discuss the importance of listening in police-community dialogue. We also discuss the implications of this research for theory, research, and practice.

Realities and Opportunities for Continuing Professional Development in Security Sector: The Case of General Santos City Police Office

This paper explored the realities and opportunities for continuing professional development in the police service of General Santos City Police Office (GSCPO). With rapid urbanization of General Santos City and the influx of people, it is the thrust of this paper to determine how the police force keep up with the increasing demand through its professional development programs. This descriptive research design employed survey, key informant interviews, and archival method in data gathering. The findings reveal that GSCPO training and development programs are deemed effective by the respondents and they have perceived strengths such as availability of ICT, sound and effective resource management, and linkages with other agencies. Notwithstanding these, the organization is faced with various challenges for its program implementation. These include budgetary constraints, inadequate facilities, insufficient number of personnel, conflict on work schedules, and the seeming lack of interest on the part of the personnel. The budget of the organization for the training and development program may not be sufficient to fully materialize the necessary activities to re-calibrate the performance of the personnel. However, there are opportunities that the organization can optimize such as the support from the stakeholders or concerned sectors of the community as well as resource sharing of the Local Government Units of General Santos City.

Police perceptions of BWCs by type of law enforcement agency: procedural justice, legitimacy, lawfulness, compliance and cooperation

PurposeThis study examined whether officers’ perceptions of the effect of BWCs on procedural justice, police lawfulness, police legitimacy, compliance with police and law, and cooperation with police differed by type of law enforcement agency.Design/methodology/approachThe data were collected from a survey administered to 152 police officers from State Police, City Police, University Police, and Sheriff’s Office.FindingsThe multivariate analyses found that City Police officers hold significantly more positive perceptions than University Police (on police legitimacy and cooperation with police), State Police (except for police lawfulness, on all other outcomes), and Sheriffs’ Office officers (on procedural justice and police legitimacy). Additionally, Sheriffs’ Office officers hold significantly more positive perceptions than University Police (on police legitimacy, cooperation with police, and compliance with police) and State Police (on police legitimacy, cooperation with police, compliance with police and law). No significant difference was found between University Police and State Police officers.Originality/valueThis is the first study that examines whether officers’ perceptions of the outcomes differ by type of law enforcement agency.

Investigating a Train-the-Trainer Model of Supervision and Peer Review for Child Interviewers in Canadian Police Services

AbstractThis project, conducted in one Canadian province, investigated whether a train-the-trainer model of supervision and peer review could improve the interviewing skills of police officers new to interviewing children. At 6 police services, 2 “interview specialists” were chosen by criteria (e.g. having conducted > 30 interviews with children), commitment (minimum 2 years to project), and performance evaluation of a mock and field interview. Specialists received additional training on leading group peer review and individual supervision. They carried out these activities over a 9-month period with 3–4 trainees (new interviewers) per site. Trainees’ interview performance was evaluated with mock and field interviews pre and post intervention. Qualitative interviews about project feasibility were carried out with the specialists at the end of the project, and the results of those interviews comprise the focus of this paper. At the time of the qualitative interviews, only 9 specialists and 5 sites remained in the project. Their interviews revealed that organizational buy-in was critical theme. Other emergent themes were that (different) training is needed for all levels of interviewing experience including interview specialists, that peer review formats are not one-size-fits-all across services, and that fostering a culture of peer review enhances cohesion.

The Influence of the Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility of the Police in Performing Public Services and Law Enforcement in the Cilegon City Police Station

This study aims to contribute to the field of police ethics and law enforcement by providing a comprehensive analysis of the factors leading to ethical violations, the responsibilities of police officers in maintaining ethical standards, and the effectiveness of law enforcement practices in dealing with such violations. Data analysis is carried out in a qualitative descriptive manner by understanding and assembling primary and secondary data that have been collected systematically to provide an overview of the problem being studied. Based on this theory, the factors that affect the occurrence of ethical violations and the responsibility of the police profession in carrying out public services and how to enforce the law on violations of the Code of Professional Ethics of the Police Professional Code of Ethics at the Cilegon City Police.

Alcohol use, civilian interference, and other possible risk factors for death during restraint

Physical restraint is usually used when trying to control and terminate a violent episode. Many causes are possible behind aggressive, agitated, and violent behavior. Some of these are such factors that can either be detected in forensic autopsies or can be evident from the person's medical records. Various causes for deaths during physical restraint have been suggested.In this study, we wanted to review all incidents in which physical restraint was employed, ending in death of the restrained person, whether the restraint was applied by police officers, security guards, police custody personnel, health care personnel or ordinary civilians. The main aim was to see if this new kind of study design would increase our knowledge in circumstances and causes leading to death in restraint situations.Data was collected retrospectively from all forensic autopsies performed in the Southern Finland area during 2010–2015. We went through 21,036 forensic autopsy cases and found 12 cases (0.06 %) in which a physical restraint was employed before death. Police officers were involved in the physical restraint in 7/12 of the cases: in two of these cases, police alone; in three cases, police and guards; and in two cases, police and health care personnel. Civilians carried out the restraint in 5/12 cases. With civilians responsible for the restraint, the cause of death was more likely considered to be a result of the restraint itself than in cases where police and other authorities were responsible for the restraint. This could be because civilians aren't educated about safe restraint methods, and they might themselves be intoxicated. Alcohol was the most common psychoactive substance found in this study and could be a risk factor for not only aggressive behavior but also death, since alcohol use can provoke cardiac arrhythmias and even sudden death. Based on this study, and previously published studies, we see restraint deaths as a varying spectrum of deaths, in which the death is often possibly a result of many factors, including the effects of agitation and restraint, intoxication, and cardiac and other illnesses.

Culturally responsive professional peace officer framework: a community college’s response to educating the next generation of police officer candidates

Abstract From Sir Robert Peel’s 1829 argument for a professionally trained police force to President Barack Obama’s 2015 Task Force on 21st Century Policing, the discussion on quality and content of peace officer pre-professional education is ongoing. With an increase in police officer incidents impacting the BIPOC communities across the Twin Cities, the degree to which law enforcement education programs address topics of cultural relations and anti-racism has come into question by community and government agencies. In response to the public’s call for action for law enforcement education reform, Inver Hills Community College developed a pre-professional peace officer education framework which altered their programs to mirror this paradigm shift. The current programs: the Culturally Responsive Professional Peace Officer Associate of Science degree and certificate, integrate a culturally responsive and social justice curricula, experiential teaching and learning, and program mission, vision, and core values aimed to equip the next generation of police officer candidates.

FINANCIAL SITUATION OF WORKERS WORKERS' AND PEASANTS' MILITATION OF THE BSSR IN 1931–1932 (USING THE EXAMPLE OF THE MOGILEV REGION)

The article attempts to study the level of financial situation of workers of the Workers' and Peasants' Militia of the BSSR (using the example of the Mogilev region), as well as measures taken by the leadership of the department to improve it in the context of structural reforms of the police in the early 1930s. The ratio of the level of financial situation of police officers relative to other categories of workers and employees has been studied. The author concludes that the level of well-being of police officers was low, which had a negative impact on their daily activities. However, the level of financial situation of police officers in general was comparable to the standard of living of other categories of citizens.

An exploratory analysis of the development and implementation of urban animal welfare policy in public spaces for four common species: Cats, dogs, pigeons, and foxes in the Brussels Capital Region

ABSTRACT This study aims to understand urban animal welfare policy development and implementation for four species in public spaces: cats (Felis catus), dogs (Canis familiaris), pigeons (Columbia livia domestica), and foxes (Vulpes vulpes). Our exploratory research offers an overview of the perspectives of all involved municipal and police officers and their challenges in a metropolitan urban context, the Brussels Capital Region in Belgium. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 35 participants from 19 municipalities and six police zones of the region. Additionally, we organized two focus groups consisting of representatives from municipalities, police zones, and nongovernmental organizations. Afterward, we analyzed the data thematically, leading to the identification of six policy and six practice recommendations. These recommendations can help advance the notion of urban animal welfare for the four species from a multispecies perspective.

Administrative legal principles of human rights-based approach by the police

One of the priority tasks of reforming law enforcement agencies is to build a preventive mechanism based on the observance of human and civil rights and freedoms, protection of society from violence and discrimination, and creation of barrier-free space for people with limited mobility. The multidimensional nature and complexity of the issues requiring statutory regulation in these areas determine the relevance of the subject under study. The purpose of this study was to model the administrative legal mechanism of police activity in which human rights would be optimally and effectively implemented. To fulfil this purpose, the methodology used included a combination of comparative rule-making, system analysis, internal and external induction, constructive cognition and content analysis. It was found that the observance of human rights in police activities is inextricably linked to the implementation of the rule of law and the provision of protective police services. Numerous cases of violations revealed during journalistic investigations and widely discussed by the public have become one of the reasons for the rapid decline in public trust in state law enforcement institutions, and as a result, a substantial obstacle to Ukraine’s integration into the European space. The study analysed the key reasons affecting the effectiveness of administrative legal strategies for ensuring a human rights-based approach in the practical activities of the National Police bodies (units). Specifically, these include transition processes related to the harmonisation of national legislation with international and European standards, low level of material and social security of police officers, insufficient level of professionalism, influence of negative environment, narrow understanding of administrative legal activities in the field of human rights related to the prevention of administrative and criminal offences. The study concluded that the principles of the rule of law, respect for human rights and freedoms and partnership-based interaction with the public are crucial and interrelated in the preventive activities of police. The study outlined the key areas of improvement of national legislation in the field of development and/or optimisation of administrative legal systems for ensuring the functioning of organisational, technical, information, and economic resources as guarantees of the implementation of the declared constitutional rights and freedoms. The results of this study can be used to formulate and improve the norms of national legislation that regulate the activities of law enforcement agencies and determine the content of its guidelines

Purchasing privilege? How status cues affect police suspicion in routine traffic stops

ABSTRACT A police officer’s decision to search a driver’s car during a routine traffic stop is based on many variables and indicates that the officer views the driver with suspicion. In this paper, we ask whether driving a luxury-brand car reduces police suspicion during a traffic stop. We find significant reductions in rates of search for minority drivers of luxury cars, though these benefits fade away as the car grows older. We further explore the interactions between personal identity and vehicle type and find powerful effects associated with whether the vehicle indicates occupational status. Our study is based on more than 10 million traffic stops conducted by the Texas Highway Patrol. These findings add status cues to the long list of factors that appear to influence how police treat drivers during routine traffic stops.

Psychiatric Characteristics, Symptoms of Insomnia and Depression, Emotion Regulation, and Social Activity among Swiss Medical Students.

Background: Almost by default, young adult students are at increased risk of suffering from mental health issues, and this holds particularly true for medical students. Indeed, compared to the general population and non-medical students, medical students report higher scores for symptoms of depression. For Swiss medical students, research on the associations between psychiatric characteristics and symptoms of depression and insomnia, including cognitive-emotional processes and social activity, has been lacking so far. Given this, the aims of the present study were to relate self-declared psychiatric characteristics to symptoms of depression, insomnia, emotion regulation, and social activity. Methods: A total of 575 medical students (mean age: 22.4 years; 68.9% females) completed an online survey covering sociodemographic information (age and gender), study context (year of study), self-declared psychiatric characteristics and symptoms of depression, insomnia, emotion regulation (cognitive reappraisal vs. emotion suppression), and social activity. Data on insomnia sum scores and categories of historical samples (862 non-medical students and 533 police and emergency response service officers) were used for comparison. Results: Of the 575 participants, 190 participants (33%) self-declared psychiatric issues, such as major depressive disorder; anxiety disorders, including PTSD and adjustment disorders; eating disorders; ADHD; or a combination of such psychiatric issues. Self-reporting a psychiatric issue was related to higher symptoms of depression and insomnia and lower symptoms of social activity and cognitive reappraisal (always with significant p-values and medium effect sizes). Compared to historical data for non-medical students and police and emergency response service officers, medical students reported higher insomnia scores. In a regression model, current self-declared psychiatric issues, female gender, higher scores for insomnia, and lower scores for social activity were associated with higher scores for depression. Conclusions: Among a sample of Swiss medical students, the occurrence of self-declared psychiatric issues was associated with higher scores for depression and insomnia and lower cognitive reappraisal and social activity. Further, insomnia scores and insomnia categories were higher when compared to non-medical students and to police and emergency response service officers. The data suggest that medical schools might introduce specifically tailored intervention and support programs to mitigate medical students' mental health issues. This holds particularly true for insomnia, as standardized and online-delivered treatment programs for insomnia (eCBTi) are available.

What to teach divisional police officers responsible for administrative supervision?

What to teach divisional police officers responsible for administrative supervision?

Impact of Social Factors on Mental Health of Police Officers

Impact of Social Factors on Mental Health of Police Officers

Health Perceptions of Police Officers in Korea: An Investigative Study

Health Perceptions of Police Officers in Korea: An Investigative Study

Law enforcement-led, pre-arrest diversion-to-treatment may reduce crime recidivism, incarceration, and overdose deaths: Program evaluation outcomes

IntroductionSubstance use disorder (SUD), overdose, and drug use-related crime continue to increase in the U.S. Pre-arrest diversion-to-treatment programs may decrease crime recidivism and overdose deaths. We assessed the impact of a community-wide diversion-to-treatment initiative on crime, incarceration, and overdose. MethodsThis article reports on the prospective evaluation of a law enforcement-led, pre-arrest diversion-to-treatment program on crime, incarceration, and overdose deaths compared between participants who did not engage (non-engaged; n = 103), engaged but did not complete (non-completers; n = 60) and completed (completers; n = 100) the program. Participants included 263 adults apprehended by police officers for low-level, drug use-related crimes between September 1, 2017 and August 31, 2020. The program offered eligible persons participation in a six-month program consisting of a clinical assessment, referral to addiction treatment services based on each individual's needs, connection to recovery peer support, and treatment engagement monitoring. Completers had their initial criminal charges ‘voided,’ while non-engaged and non-Completer participants had their original charges filed with local prosecutors. The project collected participant-level data on arrests and incarceration within 12 months before and 12 months after program enrollment and data on fatal overdose within 12 months after program enrollment. Logistic regression predicted outcomes using baseline demographics (sex, age, race, housing status) and pre-index crime arrest and incarceration indices as covariates. ResultsAfter accounting for baseline demographics and pre-enrollment arrest/incarceration history, logistic regression models found that the non-engaged and the non-Completer groups were more likely than completers to be arrested (odds ratios [ORs]: 3.9 [95 % CI, 2.0–7.7] and 3.6 [95 % CI, 1.7–7.5], respectively) and incarcerated (ORs: 10.3 [95 % CI, 5.0–20.8] and 21.0 [95 % CI, 7.9–55.7], respectively) during the 12-month follow-up. Rates of overdose deaths during the 12-month follow-up were greatest in non-engaged (6/103, 5.8 %) and non-Completer (2/60, 3.3 %) groups; completers had the lowest rate (2/100, 2.0 %), with all deaths occurring after completion of the six-month treatment/monitoring program. ConclusionsCollaboration between law enforcement, clinicians, researchers, and the broader community to divert adults who commit a low-level, drug use-related crime from criminal prosecution to addiction treatment may effectively reduce crime recidivism, incarceration, and overdose deaths.

Spaza Shops in Townships and Rural Areas to Switch to Electronic Payment Method to Run the Business Successfully and Safe: Case Study Mkhuhlu Township, Bushbuckridge Municipality, Mpumalanga In South Africa

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether spaza shop (tuck shop) owners in South Africa utilise mobile communication technologies. Secondly, it evaluated opportunities created using mobile communication. Interviews were conducted with 110 small, micro- and medium enterprises (SMMEs) operating spaza business shops in Mkhuhlu and Calcutta in the Bushbuckridge Municipality in Mpumalanga. Police officers, residents of South Africa, Somalians and Indians were interviewed. Data were collected through self-completion questionnaires. Interviews were conducted in English as most of the races did not understand an African language. Findings more technical and Technological skills are needed for the township business owners. Safety and security must support SMMEs in townships by protecting their owners and their resources against criminals.