Education Level And Police Use Of Force

This brief presents a study addressing the impact of a college degree upon officer use of force. The average American municipal police academy only requires 26 weeks of training, despite previous studies showing overwhelming support that college educated police officers apply more discretion in their use of force than officers without a college degree. Taking into account contemporary public/police conflicts and how American perceptions of police are based largely on officer use of force, this study offers a more current perspective on the profession’s changing dynamic over the past decade. With data gathered from over 400 officers from 143 distinct municipal police agencies in 6 American states, the study examines the association between a college education and the level of force used to gain compliance during arrest situations, and notes discrepancies between previously studied factors and contextual variables. This brief will be useful for researchers of policing and for those involved with police training.

Police Education and Training in a Global Society provides an international survey of police officer education. Peter C. Kratcoski and Dilip K. Das bring together police educators from every continent to explore the similarities and differences in preparing police to meet their goals and accomplish their missions around the world. Represented are perspectives on training new recruits, in-service training, and advanced training. Several chapters focus on specialized training, such as that required to combat terrorism. Throughout, the need to concentrate on the development of technical skills and human relations is emphasized. The right combination of formal education and technical training is required if the police of the twenty-first century are to be effective. Police Education and Training in a Global Society is an ideal reference for police training professionals and those pursuing criminal justice and police training. Book jacket.

Publisher Description

The need for evidence-based practice to enhance current and future police training and assessment has never been greater. This need focuses on the procedures and findings of research within the field of police work along with the philosophy guiding these research approaches and commentaries on the methods being used. With many future directions for the science of police training and assessment, the focus on new training techniques and technologies for improving performance is of the upmost importance to find the best current, evidence-based practices for policing. In addition to these practices, understanding the practical realities and challenges of implementing cutting-edge procedures is essential in gaining a holistic view on police well-being and performance. Interventions, Training, and Technologies for Improved Police Well-Being and Performance is a critical publication that explores new training methods and technologies. The future of policing is poised to change, making the need for developments in evidence-based practices more important than ever before. New technology and techniques for improving performance and the perception of the police force can guide the policies and practices of law enforcement, trainers and academies, government officials, policymakers, psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists, to a more effective implementation of training and procedures. Including the perspective of police officers within the publication, this text offers insight into an often neglected viewpoint when creating training and policies. This text is also be beneficial for researchers, academicians, and students interested in the new training techniques, technologies, and interventions for police performance and well-being.

The Psychology of Police Deadly Force Encounters: Science, Practice, and Police is a fascinating look into the reality of police work. The author integrates noted theories into a “street-wise” understanding of being a police officer. The focus of this book is on the use of deadly force by officers—a topic of considerable importance. The author discusses the psychosocial aspects of deadly force use, stemming from the individual officer, the situation, organizational influences, and the police culture. Expanding further into social issues, the controversial topic of race and use of deadly force is discussed. This depiction looks at both sides—that of racial victimization and that of the police—which helps to provide a rather unique perspective on this important issue. Of interest, the author breaks down the different dimensions of cognition as a factor in decision making among police, including the perception of the situation, the action taken depending on that perception, and the role of present and past memory. This will make for a useful training topic to alert officers to the cognitive processes that go into deadly force use—processes that they have the control to change to make a better decision. Next, the book delves into the biological factors that may be involved in police decision making—again where deadly force is involved. The various negative psychological impacts that a deadly force situation may bring about are identified and explained. This book will be useful as a tool for both law enforcement practitioners and researchers to better understand the intricacies of deadly force by the police. For researchers, the book has a multitude of references available for further exploration. It will prove to be a useful guide and reference volume for police managers and supervisors, mental health clinicians, investigators, attorneys, judges, law enforcement educators and trainers, rank and file police officers, including expert witnesses.

Training and education constitutes the backbone of a significant amount of police activity and expenditure in developing the most important resources involved in policing work. It also involves an array of actors and agencies, such as educational institutions which have a long and important relationship with police organizations. This book examines the role of education and training in the development of police in the contemporary world. Bringing together specialist scholars and practitioners from around the world, the book examines training methods in the UK, the USA, Australia, Canada, China, France, Hungary , India, the Netherlands, St Lucia and Sweden. The book throws light on important aspects of public service policing, and new areas of public and private provision, through the lens of training and development. It will be of interest to policing scholars and those involved in professional and organizational development worldwide.

This book untangles the components of police education and advocates a robust community-based training model with significant civilian oversight. The recommended approach recognizes that the citizenry needs to be included in the provision of basic police education, for it is they who must both support and be served by their police. The police must be role models for society, demonstrating that freedom and rights come with obligations, both to the community as a whole and to individuals in need within that community. Ultimately, the quality of police training and the public’s safety depend not only on the leadership of police executives as well as the quality of educational institutions and police candidates but also on the building of a community’s trust in its police. The issues of police recruitment, education, and retention have greater consequence in an era when protests and other signs of negativity surround law enforcement. Several incidents, including, most notably, George Floyd’s murder by police, have sparked new training initiatives regarding police de-escalation and community engagement. At the same time, the proliferation of gun violence and a contentious political climate have led some officers to refrain from undertaking proactive types of policing. In this context, reform of the police education system is urgent. This book examines police training at all levels of government—local, regional, state, and federal. In addition, citizen participation programs, including the role of the media and programs for furthering law-related education (LRE), are highlighted. The proposed police education model recognizes that ordinary members of the American public need to contribute to the provision of basic police education, for it is they who must both support and be served by their police. The focus is on teaching a "guardian style" of policing at the local level. Police education would combine higher education, necessary practical proficiencies, and intensive field experiences through a gradual level of greater responsibility—likely extending over a 2-plus-year period for trainees with less than a year of previous college credits. This book will be of interest to a wide range of audiences such as law enforcement professionals and trainers, including those in executive development programs in police departments; community leaders, scholars, and policy experts who specialize in policing; concerned citizens; and students of criminal justice, especially those interested in police organization and management, criminal justice policy, and the historical development of police.

Restructure the LAPD Training Group to allow the centralization of planning; instructor qualification, evaluation, and retention; and more efficient use of resources.