JOURNAL ARTICLE

Warrior or guardian? Public perceptions of law enforcement during traffic encounters and domestic disputes.

  • Published In: Policing: A Journal of Policy & Practice, 2024, v. 18. P. 1 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Graham, Amanda; Somers, Logan J. 3 of 3

Abstract

This study examines public perceptions of police officers as either guardians or warriors through two experimental vignettes involving 1,143 participants. It found that officers were more likely to be seen as guardians when they displayed a friendly and polite demeanor and issued verbal warnings rather than formal sanctions. The perception of officers as guardians or warriors was strongly influenced by how fair the outcomes were viewed. The findings suggest that despite efforts to promote a guardian mindset among officers, public acceptance may remain challenging, particularly when formal enforcement actions are necessary.

Additional Information

  • Source:Policing: A Journal of Policy & Practice. 2024/01, Vol. 18, p1
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Law
  • Publication Date:2024
  • ISSN:1752-4512
  • DOI:10.1093/police/paae115
  • Accession Number:184072966
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of Policing: A Journal of Policy & Practice is the property of Oxford University Press / USA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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