Date of Award

5-29-2024

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in Education

Department

College of Education, Doctoral Program

First Advisor

Donna Kiel

Abstract

Abstract This research study examined the impact of media on law enforcement and the secondary impact of this media on the relationship between law enforcement and the communities they serve. In addition, the study examined whether those perceptions influence police and community interactions and/or behaviors on the daily basis. This study describes the perceptions of police officers both professionally and personally as it relates to media coverage and the changing of their normal police tactics. The specific events that were focused on in this study included the shooting of Michael Brown by police in Ferguson, Missouri in August of 2014, and the death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis, Minnesota in May of 2020. This mixed methods study was conducted to identify how the media’s portrayal of police impacts police perceptions, police identity, police-community interactions, and the emotional well-being of police officers. Police officers were surveyed utilizing a modified national poll to ascertain comparable data. Data from this study was coded into 3 dominant themes, that were related to the daily interactions of police officers and the impact of media coverage of police-related incidents of violence, and then the content was analyzed. The focus surrounded the perceptions and attitudes towards police officers and the effect those perceptions and attitudes had on daily interactions. The findings indicated that media coverage of police-related incidents of violence impacted police officers. The majority of the police officers reported changes in their daily interactions as a result of media coverage both personally and professionally. Today, police officers are faced with a wide variety of circumstances which play a role in the way they perform their duties. This study has indicated that police officers are attributing their personal and professional perceptions of the attitudes of the public towards them to the media. These officers are faced with negativity, as a result of media coverage, which leads to officers altering their daily interactions just to ensure that they go home safely. Police officers are faced with challenges every day and one of those challenges includes the impact of media coverage sensationalizing police-related incidents of violence. This study and future studies surrounding the impact of media coverage and law enforcement continues to be a significant factor in the interactions between the police and the community. Studying the perceptions and attitudes of the public towards the police initiates a foundation to establish an effective police-community relationship. Effective media coverage leads to effective police-community interactions/relationships. Keywords: (perception, public view, police-related violence, mass media, media influence, daily operations, use of force, and objective truth).

Download

Share

COinS