Data Collection Instruments
The discussion fronted by Coleman (2018) heavily focuses on a sociological model as a way of collecting data. The approach used is a combination of two methods, including the sociolinguistic concept of discourse and the Jürgen Habermas discourse of democracy. By using the two instruments, the aim of the researcher is to collect data pertaining to how police could possibly regain a sense of legitimacy in their work. Nyborg (2019) on the other hand heavily relies on the systematic review of literature materials to gain information. She focuses on two concepts including the community-oriented policing and security reforms by assessing and summarizing secondary that has already been documented by other authors. Braga et al., (2013) on their part have relied on a field study as their primary way of getting information. In the randomized controlled study performed by the researchers, they collected data by means of observation and self-reports made by the police officers to assess the impact of the body-worn cameras.
Sautner & Medina (2018) rely on the systematic review of literature materials to access the much-required information. The systematic review has enabled the authors to collect, summarize, synthesize, and compare the information received. Data has also been collected from cited research studies such as the ones conducted by the Pew Research Center. The study by Jetelina et al. (2017) collects the data via the use of a blue team report. The cross-sectional data has been derived from 5630 cases that involved the use of police force. The data was collected within a span of two years beginning from 2014 and extending to 2015. Lastly, Ho & Cho (2017) rely on primary data collected from the city’s police database in Kansas City, Missouri. The aim of data collection was to assess the impact of police communication to the relationships they have in the community. By focusing on a case study in the city, the researchers were able to find the much-needed information.
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Research Question
The use of the randomized controlled study provides the most plausible way of studying the role, perceptions, and legitimacy of community policing.
Research Methodology
The randomized controlled study offers the best methodological approach to study the role, perceptions, and legitimacy of community policing. The approach was fundamentally used by Braga et al., (2013) in a bid to find whether the body-worn cameras had any positive impact in fostering positive relationships between the police and members of the community. The authors say, “Randomized experimental designs allow researchers to assume that the only systematic difference between the control and treatment groups is the presence of the intervention” (Braga et al., 2013). It is also critical to note that randomized experiments are preferred due to their strong internal validity. The validity is described as the extent to which given research designs could remove any potential competing explanations of the correlation under observation. In this study, the aim of the researcher is to assess the varied perceptions that researchers have when it comes to police wearing the body-worn cameras and those who don’t. Therefore, the process of randomization allows the researchers to assume the lack of differences between the officers in control and treatment groups before the commencement of the research.
Data Collection Techniques
Several data collection techniques could be used to better understand the issue at hand. The first set of methods is known as self-reports. Self-reports includes the questionnaires and surveys that could be posed to the police officers and the community members to gauge their response on matters of community policing. Self-reports are crucial because they can cover a lot of issues from their perceptions to values and how they feel about the role of law enforcement in their environment. The use of interviews could also provide invaluable information to the researchers. Interviews are conducted in the real-time and thus could offer a combination of information and the accompanying emotions, feelings, and values. The researchers could as well rely on observation as a way of attaining the data. By simply observing how police officers are welcomed in the community or the public’s reactions towards them, critical information will have been documented.
Other ways that data could be collected is through the use of primary and secondary sources. The primary sources include police data found in the respective departments. The data can also be retrieved from online platforms. The secondary sources of data could help in providing information that has already been synthesized by the respective authors. Some of the examples include textbooks, scholarly journals, dailies, and newspapers among others. The secondary sources will provide more synthesized information that will help in deciphering whatever that shall have been found from the primary sources. A combination of all these methods will ensure that the collected data is of the required quality.
Gaining and Maintaining the Trust of the Pubic
The first strategy that the police could use in gaining and maintaining the trust of the public is by the use of the body-worn cameras as described by Braga et al., (2013). The presence of the camera on the surface of the police’s body continually reminds them that they are on the watch. Therefore, it ensures that they obey the law and act in a manner that best benefits the community members. Studies have also shown that the public is more confident when the police are fitted with body cameras which hold them accountable to their behaviors. Coleman (2018) highlights the need to create public platforms between the police and the community. The constant engagement between the two entities ensures that they are better-placed to correlate and work together in maintaining public security. Similar sentiments are echoed by Sautner & Medina (2018) who believe that it is only through the creation of structured ways that the police and community can interact together. Therefore, building better police-community relations will focus on better police responsibility in their work, police reforms, and constant engagement between the two entities. Also, the creation of public awareness regarding the role of the police in the community will reduce unnecessary tensions and fears witnessed among the public.
Long-Term Vision for Resources
It is imperative to note that the allocation of police resources in the United States has been marked by widespread inefficiencies. Den Heyer, (2014) says, “Traditionally, police agencies have allocated resources in response to their operational demands or requirements, with the majority of resources being distributed in response to political demands and public calls for service” (p. 63). Therefore, the author comes up with several strategies that could be used in the process of utilizing the resources. First, the main emphasis should be on the personal security of the officers and that of the public. Therefore, law enforcers should be equipped with modern technology, efficient weapons, and communication gadgets to promptly deal with rapid situations (Den Heyer, 2014). Secondly, police are part and parcel of law enforcement resources. As human resources, the top hierarchy should focus on deployment of police officers based on the need and situations of the community. More emphasis should be placed on securing the marginalized and conflict-prone areas. Attention should also be provided to pertinent issues such as enough police vehicles, firearms, and uniforms.
References
Braga, A. A., Sousa, W. H., Coldren Jr, J. R., & Rodriguez, D. (2018). The effects of body-worn cameras on police activity and police-citizen encounters: A randomized controlled trial. J. Crim. L. & Criminology, 108, 511.
Coleman, F. (2018). Between the Facts and Norms of Police Violence: Using Discourse Models to Improve Deliberations around Law Enforcement. Hofstra L. Rev., 47, 489.
Den Heyer, G. (2014). Examining police strategic resource allocation in a time of austerity. Salus Journal, 2(1), 63.
Ho, A. T. K. & Cho, W. (2017). Government communication effectiveness and satisfaction with police performance: a large‐scale survey study. Public Administration Review, 77(2), 228-239.
Jetelina, K. K., Jennings, W. G., Bishopp, S. A., Piquero, A. R., & Reingle Gonzalez, J. M. (2017). Dissecting the complexities of the relationship between police officer–civilian race/ethnicity dyads and less-than-lethal use of force. American journal of public health, 107(7), 1164-1170.
Nyborg, I. (2019). Emerging Perspectives on Post-Conflict Police-Community Relations. Journal of Human Security, 15(2), 1.
Sautner, K., & Medina, G. (2018). Using Storytelling to Establish Justice: How Civic Education Can Change Police Community Relations. Journal of Museum Education, 43(2), 114-125.
