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Journal review

Name

Course

Institution

Date
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Journal Review

Liqun Cao Ph.D. (2002) Curbing Police Brutality: What Works? A Reanalysis of Citizen

Complaints at the Organizational Level.

Problem

Cases of excessive use of force by law enforcers have been a topic of discussion across

the United States in the recent past. Police officers have committed brutal acts, both physical and

verbal, against the general public, and many cases have been reported. Innocent civilians have

lost lives and others injured as a result of careless police active shootings. Any action that

amounts to harassing civilians or degrading them is termed as brutal and is unwarranted. This

behavior negatively affects the public confidence in the police force and reduces officer morale.

It also creates animosity between the police and the civilians and also negatively paints the

police agencies. The United States is a democratic country, and human rights and freedoms are

enshrined in the constitution. Therefore the police force should enforce law and order while

protecting these freedoms. The police agencies have to put measures that ensure the officers are

sensitized on how to execute their duties without victimizing citizens.

Comments: The statements of the problems rhymed with the article's title in that they seek to

address the problem of what should be done to reduce or do away with the cases of police

brutality. The study was significant because the issue at hand is protecting the lives and freedom

of the people.

Literature review

The author of the article researched the topic and found several other sources with written
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literature on the topic. The article proposes two models that should be used to curb police

brutality. The professionalism model proposes that only the most honest, obedient, and best-

trained people are recruited into the police force. This model focuses on the personal aspects of

the police officers from the training academies. The bureaucratic model says that police officer's

conduct should be closely monitored through the issuance of rules and regulations and

supervision of their activities.

Objectives

Particularly, this study sought to identify whether personal traits of police officers from

training academies affect their conduct in service. For example, whether considering

qualifications such as integrity, education levels, or the quality of training they receive affects

their behavior. In addition, the conduct of a police officer is affected either by the organizational

behavior, availability of good role models, and close supervision affecting police officers'

conduct.

Comments: The author carried out a null hypothesis to answer the objectives. The hypotheses

were testable; hence the problem was explained.

Hypothesis: The author tested whether there is any relationship between police misconduct and

their levels of honesty, education, and training. Also, he tested whether organizational behavior

and characteristics can influence the conduct of police officers.

Comments: The intention was clearly and precisely stated; hence it agreed with the title.

Methodology

The author used stratified sampling techniques to survey all state, county, and local police
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agencies. The research is by far one of the complete studies on cases of police brutality. The

dependent variables in the study included; the police abuse of power in different capacities and

the rate of complaints of excessive use of force by citizens per hundred officers.

Comments: The methods used to gather data and information for this article were clearly

explained. The population used was adequate.

Findings

Tobit model was used to analyze the public complaint rate against excessive force and

abuse by the police. There is a substantial variation between the variables, public complaints, and

excessive force by the police.

Comments: The findings were reported and presented objectively, and the tables were also well

organized.

Summary

In summary, this study has identified that organizational behaviors and characteristics can

influence people's behavior in the police force. Therefore, the police administration should

consider laying a strong ethical and behavioral foundation for the officers as early as they are in

training.

Conclusions

Conclusions and implications were made to know that this article can make policies and

changes that could bring sanity to the police force. The information was obtained from the

citizens who receive services from the police force.

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Comments: The conclusions were made from findings, logically analyzed data from all the

states and local police agencies.

Recommendations

Future studies can consider whether police remuneration affects their attitude towards

their job and if it could lead to them turning violent.

Comments: Low income for police officers can frustrate them due to huge family

responsibilities and depression. Additional research is needed to evaluate if there is any

relationship between income and police brutality.

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