Poster #166 - Partnering with the Community or Ready for Battle? An Analysis of Police Recruitment Videos & Department Websites

• In Event: ASC Poster Session II

Abstract

Police departments across the country are often understaffed and struggle with recruitment efforts. High profile events involving police use of force continue to further strain the relationship between the police and community members. Municipal police departments often indicate they are community-oriented, yet such claims may not be consistent with the images and information on their websites and in recruitment videos. Unlike other media representations of law enforcement, recruitment videos and department websites are under the control of police agencies themselves. These videos and websites provide an opportunity for police departments to feature realistic representations of the profession, and to convey their commitment to partnering with the community. Building on research conducted by Koslicki (2021), this study relies on a national sample of police departments. Analyzing recruitment videos and department websites, we identify and quantify themes consistent with militarization in policing, as well as elements consistent with community-oriented policing. We discuss key findings, recommendations for recruitment efforts, and provide suggestions for website features that demonstrate an agency’s commitment to serving their community.

Authors

• Julie Kiernan Coon, Roger Williams University

• Zehra Atay, Roger Williams University