Who Controls the Cops?

• In Event: Research Issues Arising from Police-Community Interactions

Abstract

The historical tensions between Los Angeles County residents and law enforcement have manifested in many ways; presently, residents are calling for more accountability. The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department has faced backlash due to corruption allegations and a newly implemented civilian oversight commission is tasked with aiding the department in its endeavors to restore public trust and transparency. The research, at its early stages, will examine law enforcement engagement with communities of color and explore the mechanisms by which this commission might influence the practice of policing. The study intends to unpack community engagement efforts and examine both symbolic and instrumental aspects of achieving legitimacy. Utilizing archrival data, ethnography, and structured-interviews of community members and law enforcement actors, this mixed-method approach will engage not only policing as an institution, but community engagement as well. Los Angeles County residents now have a platform for working with agencies and by extension, holding them accountable. The question remains however, if the commission’s intended purpose will be realized.

Author

• LaBreonna Bland, University of California - Irvine