Our new study found that de-escalation training improved how officers communicate with citizens, but didn't reduce use of force incidents. Here's what that means for police reform.
BACKGROUND: WHAT ARE POLICE SUBGROUPS? Policing is inherently collaborative. Officers develop strong bonds to navigate stressful, high-pressure situations, relying on teamwork, shared duties, and coordinated efforts to maintain public safety. These shared bonds sometimes create unofficial “subgroups” with unique identities or symbols known only to their members.
BACKGROUND: WHAT DRIVES OFFICERS TO USE FORCE TOGETHER? Police use of force tends to involve groups of officers rather than individuals acting alone. The impact of individual acts of police use of force is evident, but the way in which groups of abusive officers emerge within police forces is still not fully understood.
Policing scholars frequently use surveys to understand officer attitudes and behavioral intentions. Yet, it is difficult to gain access to one – let alone multiple – agencies. Thus, officer surveys often reflect views in a single department, making …
Background
It is no secret that policing is group work – officers are assigned to beats/units, workgroups, and partnerships based on districts or specialized skills. Working in close contact, officers form tight bonds where they depend on one another for their safety and turn to one another for guidance and advice.