Law Enforcement Officer’s Use of Force Training Examined Through the Lense of Personal Perceptions.

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This study was conducted to identify law enforcement officers’ perceptions on use of force trainings and their perceptions of departmental policies and procedures. Additionally, this study examined the mutually held beliefs of law enforcement officers regarding use of force and how those beliefs are relative to trainings and departmental policies and procedures. A quantitative research method consisting of a univariate, bivariate, and linear regression statistical analysis was conducted. Data for this study were obtained via an anonymous survey that gathered the candid input as it related to trainings, departmental policies and procedures, and the appropriateness of uses of force in given situations. The population was comprised of law enforcement officers in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The survey population was selected using a non-probability sampling method. Upon completion of data collection, this researcher analyzed statistical output to determine if there were statistical differences in law enforcement officers’ perceptions of use of force as it relates to trainings, departmental policies and procedures, and given situations. There are no statistical differences in the perceptions of law enforcement officers as it relates to gender or mutually held beliefs. There is a statistical difference between novice and experienced law enforcement officers’ perceptions as it relates to trainings and departmental policies and procedures. The survey conducted for this study revealed that law enforcement officers perceive the training they receive and departmental policies and procedures to be adequate. However, the majority of survey respondents indicated the desire for additional trainings in several areas that would improve their skills and enhance delivery of law enforcement services.