Improvisations of COVID-19: The Pandemic-Era Measures That Make Policing Better
Abstract
The emergency of COVID-19 prompted law enforcement agencies to implement different policy changes to minimize the spread of the virus that placed police officers in dilemmas of personal risk. This thesis analyzes the onset of COVID-19 in the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia as a paradigm for understanding the effects of the virus concerning police officers in the United States. The research finds that some policy changes during the pandemic ushered in job flexibility that boosted officer effectiveness, decreased stress,and revolutionized community engagement. Nevertheless, some were counterproductive and created tension between law enforcement and union leaders. Policy implementation and enforcement to contain the spread ofCOVID-19 varied from one agency to another, despite the common challenges. This thesis examines the impact of COVID-19 on law enforcement and explores the positive effects of shifts in policy and practice among law enforcement agencies during the pandemic. It shows how policy development such as virtual technology,teleworking, social distancing, arrest deferments, and citation eligibility brought about positive changes that made policing better. In identifying whether police responses to the pandemic were effective or counterproductive, this thesis presents recommendations to improve the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies and to help agencies prepare for future pandemics.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2022
- Accession Number
- AD1201727
Entities
People
- Anthony Rotimi
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School