Use of Force Perceived by African American Female Law Enforcement Officers in Detroit
Date of Conferral
10-30-2023
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Public Policy and Administration
Advisor
Gregory Campbell
Abstract
The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to address the lack of attention given to African American female police officers’ perceptions of the use-of-force that has impacted the Black community. There was an ongoing concern about the excessive use-of-force in Black communities and a desire for immediate change. The theoretical framework that guided this study was critical race theory. Data were collected from in-depth semistructured interviews with 12 African American female police officers from Detroit, Michigan. Two participants indicated a major problem embedded in the psyche of law enforcement officers related to Black males in Detroit and elsewhere. Ten participants thought that a major issue was the culture of disrespect toward law enforcement and a misunderstanding of respective cultures. Findings also indicated that there should be more focus on mental health, consent decrees, training, and culture. Incorporating African American female police officers’ perspectives could provide police chiefs and other law enforcement officials with an additional tool to abate the root causes of excessive use-of-force.
Recommended Citation
Garth, Darrell Edward, "Use of Force Perceived by African American Female Law Enforcement Officers in Detroit" (2023). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 14992.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/14992
