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Brandl, S. G. & Stroshine, M. S. (2012). The role of officer attributes, job characteristics, and arrest activity in explaining police use of force. Crimial Justice Policy Review, 24(5), 551-572.

While numerous studies have examined the causes, correlates, and control of police use of force, many questions remain. This study contributes to the literature on police use of force by examining the role of officers’ background characteristics, job characteristics (patrol area and shift assignment), and arrest activity in explaining variation in the frequency with which officers use force. Analyses were conducted on 1,084 police officers employed in a large municipal police department. Use of force data were obtained from 477 official departmental reports from 2010. Results suggest that a small proportion of officers are responsible for a large proportion of force incidents, and that officers who frequently use force differ in important and significant ways from officers who use force less often (or not at all). Policy implications and directions for future research are discussed.

Questions that apply to this article:

1. What is the most significant individual-level officer explanation discussed in the article?
2. How does an officer’s background impact individual-level characteristics?
3. What was the most significant finding of the research presented dealing with ethics and officer characteristics?

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Hawdon, J. (2008). Legitimacy, trust, social capital, and policing styles: A theoretical statement. Police Quarterly, 11(2), 182-201.

There currently is no consensus about why attitudes toward police vary by neighborhood. An unexplored explanation is that resident trust of police and perceptions of police legitimacy may depend on neighborhood levels of social capital. This article considers the relationships among trust, legitimacy, procedural justice, social capital, and policing styles. Treating trust and legitimacy as conceptually distinct, how neighborhood levels of social capital influence these perceptions and the style of policing that is most likely to promote these perceptions are discussed. Issues concerning the measurement of trust and legitimacy are also considered.

Questions that apply to this article:

1. Why is it problematic for researchers to separate the issues of trust and legitimacy?
2. What is social capital and how can it impact trust and legitimacy?
3. In what way did the authors conclude that trust, legitimacy, and social capital impacts policing styles?

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Nelligan, P. J. & Taylor, R. W. (1994). Ethical issues in community policing. Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, 10(1), 59-66.

Community policing requires fundamental changes to the philosophy and organization of police work.  Among these changes will be substantial reduction in the political and social isolation of police departments and police officers as well as the granting of more autonomy and discretion to individual police officers. Just as the traditional, professional model of police work presents ethical challenges to police departments and officers, so will community policing.  Reduction of the political and social isolation of the police may increase the risk of corruption and favoritism and greater autonomy and discretion for police officers increases the risk of police officers being beyond the effective control of their departments.  By anticipating these unintended consequences of police reform steps may be taken to avoid them.

Questions that apply to this article:

1. According to the authors, what are the most significant issues facing police officers when they engage in community policing?
2. What ethical issues challenge officers in community policing that did not when they engaged in traditional styles?

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