Subgroups

This article argues that many persistent policing challenges are driven less by formal rules than by informal social networks among officers. Using network science, departments can map hidden relationships within their workforce to identify …

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.