Date of Award
Spring 2021
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Department
College of Education, Doctoral Program
First Advisor
Andrea Kayne, JD
Abstract
The current precarious relationship between law enforcement and some marginalized minority communities throughout the United States is quite alarming. The Los Angeles riots of 1992, the Baltimore riots of 2015, and the nationwide riots of 2020 serve as a few relatively recent reminders regarding the potentially explosive relationship between marginalized minority communities and the police. Several social and economic factors contribute to the unrest in some marginalized minority communities, such as unemployment and poorly funded educational systems in many areas in the United States. However, in this study, an emphasis was placed on what measures law enforcement agencies can take to establish respectful and productive relationships with marginalized minority communities. Consequently, this study examined the relationship between complaints against the police and a predominantly minority populated police district. This research examined data in the city of Chicago. This study utilized a quantitative non-experimental correlational research design. This study measured a statistical pattern between increasing complaints against the police and predominantly minority populated police districts. The findings of this study disclosed some intriguing results. It seems there is a strong positive correlation between predominantly minority populated police districts and citizen complaints against the police. Subsequently, this study put forth a solution to mend strained relationships with some marginalized minority communities. Specifically, a liberal arts micro-credential can be a solution. A liberal arts micro-credential can provide officers with the needed tools such as enhanced ethics, morals, compassion, and understanding to properly engage with marginalized minority communities. Such a short-term program can cultivate a more ethical and culturally aware attitude among police officers. Subsequently, police officers are better equipped to empathize with marginalized minority communities and foster a healthy relationship.
Recommended Citation
Del Toro, Hermogenes, "Liberal Arts Micro-Credential: Teaching a Police Officer Reflection, Empathy, and Self-Awareness; Going Beyond Training a Police Officer to Act and React" (2021). College of Education Theses and Dissertations. 197.
https://via.library.depaul.edu/soe_etd/197