Bridging the Gap: Police and Community

• In Event: Police-Community Relations and Engagement

Abstract

While police organization factors have been studied extensively in relation to officer stress, there has been little exploration of how police organization factors impact officer willingness to include the community in justice matters. Community-oriented policing has included the community to a greater extent than professional policing models; however, there still remains a divide between officers and the communities they serve. This gap could be bridged with a restorative policing model. Restorative policing requires officers to build community, and not just keep the peace within it. Community can be built through fostering relationships. The current study analyzes factors that impact officer (n = 296) willingness to include the community in justice to a greater degree. Findings suggest officers who have had more years in policing, are more involved in all community matters (not just those related to crime), feel their organization protects them from external pressures and criticisms, work in rural areas, and have had a family member incarcerated are more willing to involve the community in justice.

Author

• Krystal Ann Glowatski, Simon Fraser University