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Considering Objective and Subjective Measures for Police Use of Force Evaluation

Author

Listed:
  • Paula M. Di Nota

    (Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, Canada)

  • Jennifer F. Chan

    (Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, Canada)

  • Juha-Matti Huhta

    (Police University College, 33721 Tampere, Finland
    Faculty of Education and Culture, University of Tampere, 33100 Tampere, Finland)

  • Judith P. Andersen

    (Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, Canada)

Abstract

In spite of significant interest in the application of police use of force (UOF) from organisations, researchers, and the general public, there remains no industry standard for how police UOF is trained, and by extension, evaluated. While certain UOF behaviours can be objectively measured (e.g., correct shoot/no shoot decision making (DM), shot accuracy), the subjective evaluation of many UOF skills (e.g., situation awareness, SA) falls to the discretion of individual instructors. The aim of the current brief communication is to consider the operationalisation of essential UOF behaviours as objective and subjective measures, respectively. Using longitudinal data from a sample of Canadian police officers ( n = 57) evaluated during UOF training scenarios, we discuss how objective and subjective measures reflect changes in officer performance over time. Objective lethal force DM was measured as a binary ‘correct–incorrect’ outcome and subjective SA was measured on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from ‘unacceptable’ to ‘exceptional’. Subjective evaluation of SA demonstrated significant changes over time, while DM remained relatively high and stable. Given the practical and professional implications of UOF, we recommend that a combination of objective and subjective measures is systematically implemented at all stages of police UOF training and evaluation (i.e., basic, advanced, in-service).

Suggested Citation

  • Paula M. Di Nota & Jennifer F. Chan & Juha-Matti Huhta & Judith P. Andersen, 2021. "Considering Objective and Subjective Measures for Police Use of Force Evaluation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-12, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:10:p:5351-:d:556574
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Judith P. Andersen & Harri Gustafsberg, 2016. "A Training Method to Improve Police Use of Force Decision Making," SAGE Open, , vol. 6(2), pages 21582440166, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Juha-Matti Huhta & Paula M. Di Nota & Veikko Surakka & Poika Isokoski & Eero Ropo, 2022. "Experience-Dependent Effects to Situational Awareness in Police Officers: An Eye Tracking Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-12, April.

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