What makes a good police officer? Phenomenological reflections from the African-American community

摘要

This paper reports the results of a study using a phenomenological method. The study investigates two questions: (1) what are African-Americans' perceptions of the police following contact with a police officer, and (2) what are the qualities that African-Americans think are important for police officers to possess. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews over a three-month period with 32 African-American participants. The findings suggest that African-Americans viewed a positive contact with the police when the officer utilized human relations traits such as cultural sensitivity, empathy, and fairness. The qualities deemed important by African-Americans for a police officer to possess were congruent with human relations qualities. The implications for police practice and research are discussed.