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                            Library & Multimedia
 Police Officers as Warriors or Guardians: Empirical Reality or Intriguing Rhetoric?
NCJ Number
              252690

Author(s)
          Kyle  McLean;
                        Scott E. Wolfe;
                        Jeff  Rojek;
                        Geoffrey P. Alpert;
                        Michael R. Smith
Date Published

2019
Length
              23 pages
Annotation
              This study examined survey data from two U.S. police departments to assess the validity of the Warrior/Guardian framework for policing.
Abstract
              Policing experts have suggested that shifting from a warrior mindset - officers viewing themselves as warriors fighting crime - to a guardian mindset - officers valuing working with the public to reduce crime - is a valuable method for improving police-community relations across the United States; however, little empirical evidence has been used to inform this debate. In addressing this research gap, the current study used factor analyses in determining that the warrior and guardian mindsets are distinct, but related concepts. Furthermore, these mindsets are associated with different attitudinal outcomes (e.g. the guardian mindset was associated with greater prioritization of communication during citizen encounters). Thus, the Warrior/Guardian framework is supported empirically. Overlap between the Warrior/Guardian framework and existing police culture literature is discussed, and police culture is offered as a potential explanation for variation in warrior and guardian orientations. (Publisher abstract modified)
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        2016-IJ-CX-0018


  
  
        
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        NIJ-Sponsored


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Survey
                                Research (Applied/Empirical)
                                Report (Study/Research)
                                Report (Grant Sponsored)
                                Program/Project Description


  
  
        
  Award
        An Evaluation of a Social Interaction Training Program to Reduce the Use of Force and BuildLegitimacy
    
  
  
Date Published: January 1, 2019
    
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Related Datasets
        
                      https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR37856.v1
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