Carol A. Archbold

Gender and police stress

This study explores the impact of work environment, work‐family conflict, and coping mechanisms on physical and psychological stresses of police officers. Using survey data from a large police department located in the New England area, we pay specific attention to analyzing similar and dissimilar results while comparing across gender groups. Our research indicates that for both gender groups, work‐family conflict (spillover) and destructive coping mechanisms are among the strongest and most consistent stressors, regardless of the measures of dependent variable employed (i.e. somatization, anxiety and depression). On the other hand, we also find divergent impact of exposures to negative work environment, camaraderie, and constructive coping mechanisms on different measures of work related stresses across the two gender groups. Implications of these convergent and divergent effects are discussed.

Police Perceptions of Sexual Assault Victims: Exploring the Intra-Female Gender Hostility Thesis

This study explores variation in the perception of sexual assault victims among male and female police officers in a Midwestern police agency. Surveys that include both qualitative and quantitative questions are completed by 100 patrol officers. An analysis of qualitative data revealed some support for the Intra-Female Gender Hostility Thesis, which posits that female officers subscribe to rape myths and victim blaming more than male officers. Quantitative analysis showed no significant differences in the way that male and female officers perceived sexual assault victims. Policy implications based on these findings are presented and discussed at the end of this article.

Managing the bottom line: risk management in policing

Purpose – To present qualitative data illustrating how some of the largest law enforcement agencies in the USA use risk management in their efforts to control police liability.Design/methodology/approach – To explore this topic, two main data sources were utilized: telephone interviews with 354 law enforcement agencies identified the prevalence of the use of risk management by police agencies; and survey data from police agencies provided descriptive information about the roles, duties, and placement of risk managers within each police organization.Findings – Telephone interviews revealed that 14 of the 354 (0.039 percent) law enforcement agencies identified risk management as one of several tools they use to control police‐related liability within their organizations. This finding is surprising, given the increase in costs associated with settlements/payouts for police‐involved litigation and liability claims over the past few decades.Research limitations/implications – Future research should identify th...

Widening the scope on complaints of police misconduct

Purpose – This study aims to examine the relationship between officer characteristics, productivity levels, situational context, the complaint process and allegations of police misconduct in a Midwestern municipal police agency.Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected for all formal and informal complaints filed against patrol officers from 2002‐2005. Demographic information, arrest, citation and report data, as well as data regarding the number of officers on scene during the police citizen contact that resulted in the complaint were utilized in these analyses.Findings – The analyses in this study demonstrate that more aggressive officers – those who issue a greater number of citations – will generate a greater number of complaints of misconduct. Two variables explain the processing of formal complaints: number of officers present and the nature of the complaint. Further, the analyses indicate that informal complaints are a viable source of data and that the collection and archival of informal c...

Policing “The Patch”: Police Response to Rapid Population Growth in Oil Boomtowns in Western North Dakota

This study examines police response to rapid population growth resulting from the oil boom in western North Dakota. This study uses methodological triangulation to examine how rapid population growth has affected the way that police personnel conduct their work and interact with citizens in their communities. Data sources include face-to-face interviews with 101 sworn police personnel working in eight agencies, across four counties in western North Dakota, and examination of official data (including concealed weapons permits, calls for police service, and police personnel). Research findings reveal that the oil boom has caused significant changes to policing in western North Dakota.

Comparing Promotion Aspirations among Female and Male Police Officers

This study compares the promotion aspirations of female and male police officers in a Midwestern police agency in the United States. Survey data revealed that female officers are less likely to pursue promotion compared with male officers. There were both similarities and differences found between the male and female officers in the factors that influenced each groups decision not to pursue promotion. This study is important because it reveals how the perceptions held by female and male police officers impact their decision not to pursue promotion. This is especially important for female police officers since there are currently so few women in administrative and supervisory roles.

Lawsuits involving the police: a content analysis of newspaper accounts

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to study lawsuits involving the police using newspaper accounts from three large cities in the USA.Design/methodology/approach – A content analysis was conducted using 634 newspaper articles from the New York Times, Chicago Sun‐Times, and the Los Angeles Times from 1993‐2003.Findings – Research findings reveal how prevalent racial and gender discrimination issues are in lawsuits involving the police; some of the differences in lawsuits filed by police employees compared to those filed by citizens; the extent of disciplinary action taken against police officers named in lawsuits, and any organizational changes (i.e. department policies, procedures, or training) made as a result of lawsuits filed against police agencies.Research limitations/implications – The findings from this study are based solely on what the newspapers chose to report. It may be the case that newspapers only report on extraordinary lawsuits involving the police, or lawsuits that result in moderate ...

Just do what you can (…) make it work! Exploring the impact of rapid population growth on police organizations in western North Dakota

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine how rapid population growth resulting from the oil boom affects police organizations in western North Dakota. Design/methodology/approach – Using face-to-face interviews with 101 police personnel working in eight law enforcement agencies, this study explores how rapid population growth affects police organizations (in general), police resources, and the work environment of police organizations located in four counties in western North Dakota. Resource dependency theory and contingency theory provide a theoretical framework for understanding how changes in the communities (external environment) have led to changes within police organizations in this region. Findings – Rapid population growth resulting from the oil boom in western North Dakota has required police agencies to make changes in the way that they are structured and function. In addition, the rapid increase in population has also strained police organizations’ resources. Research limitations/impli...

Anatomy of a Gang Suppression Unit: The Social Construction of an Organizational Response to Gang Problems

This article explores the institutional response of a midsized Midwestern police department to a perceived growing problem with youth gang activity. More specifically, this article analyzes both individual- and organizational-level variables that provide justification for creating and sustaining the existence of a Gang Suppression Unit (GSU). The evolution of the GSU is traced through both formal and informal constructions of a perceived youth gang problem by the Cedar Springs Police Department. Data collection consisted of 250 hours of participant observation with both uniformed patrol officers and members of the GSU, as well as official memos, records, and newspaper articles, to illustrate a historical overview of how the GSU emerged. In addition, this case study also provides evidence of common conditions often found in moral panic situations.

Newspaper Accounts of Racial Profiling Accurate Portrayal or Perpetuation of Myth

There is both speculation and debate surrounding the prevalence of racial profiling in the United States. Since most people do not directly experience this problem themselves, many rely on information provided to them by various media sources (including newspapers). This study investigates trends in the presentation of racial profiling by three major American newspapers. A content analysis of newspaper articles from 1986 to 2010 reveals the frequency and context of the reporting of racial profiling, the extent to which it is presented as a problem for all racial minority groups as opposed to a select few, and the identification of the “primary definers” of the problem of racial profiling.