Belief in police heroism and willingness to empower the police among the public: The roles of perceived danger and sensitivity to moral decline

• In Event: Rutgers at 50: Theoretical Contributions to Criminology

Abstract

Public discourse has long characterized police officers as heroes, and such characterizations serve to legitimize the police. However, little research to date has explored the implications of the public’s belief in this characterization. The current study draws on multiple theoretical perspectives to address this gap in the literature. In doing so, we examine theoretical antecedents to belief in police heroism (including perceptions of policing as a dangerous job and sensitivity to moral decline), as well as how belief in police heroism may be associated with the public’s willingness to empower the police (including support for police militarization and willingness to cooperate the police). Data are drawn from a national YouGov survey conducted in 2021 (N = 1,225). Results suggest that both perceptions of policing as a dangerous job and sensitivity to moral decline are associated with belief in police heroism; and that belief in police heroism has both direct effects and indirect effects, via perceived police legitimacy, on the public’s willingness to empower the police. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Authors

• Jason Silver, Rutgers University - Newark

• Merin Sanil, Rutgers University - Newark