Law Enforcement Executive Racial Diversification and Changes in Organizational Characteristics: A descriptive analysis

• In Event: Area XII. Diversity and Inclusion - Policing

Abstract

Although White men still make up a majority of law enforcement officers in the United States, explicit efforts to diversify the workforce have been effective at increasing the proportion of women, racial minorities and LGBTQ+ identified individuals. To date, most research has focused on the supportive reasons why diversity is desirable and the positive potential outcomes. Drawing on the frameworks of representative bureaucracy, self-legitimacy and White backlash, this study seeks to understand the potential negative reactions to increased heterogeneity, specifically when people of color become chief law enforcement executives. Exploring agency demographic trends in LEMAS data from 2007-2020 (n = 576) we assess whether law enforcement leadership became more diverse between 2016 and 2020 and any changes in agencies’ racial makeup or organizational structure. The data demonstrated an increase in the relative percentage of non-White executives between 2016 and 2020. The agencies involved in a transition during this time experienced unique shifts in officer demographics and structure. We highlight group differences and potential directions for future research from this underexplored perspective.

Authors

• Benjamin Cohn, University of Central Florida

• Matthew Matusiak, University of Arkansas at Little Rock