Hybrid Policing: Exploring Police Innovation Adoption in Latin America

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Abstract

This study investigates the adoption of policing innovations in Latin America, highlighting hybrid models as a combination of elements of community policing and hot spot policing adopted in Chile, Colombia, Uruguay, and Honduras from 2000 to 2020. The research employs a multi-method qualitative approach, including archival research and interviews with 67 key informants. Results reveal three types of hybrid policing models—embedded, fragmented, and focused—shaped by domestic contexts and organizational conditions. Successful adoption requires collaboration among various stakeholders: government, police agencies, experts, and international organizations. The study contributes to the global understanding of the adoption of policing innovations and offers policy implications for guiding policymakers in the global south. It underscores the importance of adapting strategies from the global north to suit the unique contexts of Latin American countries.

Author

• Felipe Salazar-Tobar, Rutgers University