Examining Organizational Changes in Policing as a Result of a Global Pandemic

• In Event: An Historical Perspective of Policing with Focus on COVID-19 and Beyond

Abstract

Purpose of the Study. We seek to examine the effects contextual factors have on the types of changes implemented by police organizations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, we are interested in the sociodemographic characteristics of the community, the political context of the community, the public health crisis, and the medical capacity of the community. Design of the Study. We accomplished this using survey data administered to police chiefs/sheriffs from 68 police agencies in a Southern state from November 2000 to January 2021, as well as county-level data on COVID-19 infections, deaths, hospital capacity, community characteristics, crime rates known to the police, and voting preferences. We used multivariate models to assess the effects of county-wide measures on the police administrators' views about the extent of organizational and operational changes. Major Findings. We found that the severity of the health crisis, the capacity of the local hospitals, and the political context were related to the extent of perceived organizational and operational changes. Conclusions. Our results indicate that police are affected by the dynamics unfolding in the community.

Authors

• Yongjae Nam, Michigan State University

• Marijana Kotlaja, University of Missouri - Kansas City

• Jon Maskaly, University of North Dakota

• Sanja Kutnjak Ivković, Michigan State University

• Chris Copeland, Tarleton State University

• Alex del Carmen, Tarleton State University