1

Use of Technology and Cognitive Approaches in Law Enforcement

Student's Name

Department, Institutional Affiliation

Course

Instructor's Name

Assignment Date
 2

Use of Technology and Cognitive Approaches in Law Enforcement

Summary and Theory Background

Research on technology and cognitive approaches in law enforcement is being conducted to

enhance decision-making during perceived threats. There are several reasons why this research is

being done. The first reason is public safety concerns: Active shooter situations and suspicious

packages pose a significant threat to public safety, and law enforcement agencies must respond

quickly and effectively to mitigate these threats. Research on technology and cognitive

approaches to enhance law enforcement decision-making can help improve response times and

outcomes, ultimately increasing public safety (Berk, 2021). Another reason is the limitations of

human decision-making: Human decision-making is often influenced by emotions, biases, and

heuristics, which can lead to errors in judgment. Law enforcement officers may be particularly

vulnerable to these cognitive biases in high-pressure situations such as active shooter incidents.

Research on cognitive approaches, such as mindfulness training or decision-making protocols,

can help mitigate the impact of these biases on decision-making. Alternatively, advancements in

technology: The field of law enforcement has seen significant advancements in technology in

recent years, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analytics (Berk, 2021).

These technologies can be leveraged to help law enforcement make better decisions during

active shooter incidents or when faced with suspicious packages. For example, machine learning

algorithms can analyze social media data to identify potential threats, or computer vision systems

can help identify individuals carrying weapons or suspicious packages.

One way in which technology affects cognition for law enforcement is through the use of

virtual reality training. Virtual reality allows officers to simulate various scenarios in a controlled

and safe environment, such as an active shooter situation or a suspicious package. This training
 3

can help officers develop and improve decision-making skills in high-pressure situations.

Additionally, technology such as body cameras and facial recognition software can be used to

aid in identifying and apprehending suspects. Regarding cognitive approaches, research has

shown that various factors, such as stress and biases, can influence the decision-making process.

By utilizing mindfulness and emotion regulation techniques, law enforcement personnel can

better manage their emotions and make more rational decisions during high-stress situations.

Additionally, cognitive strategies such as problem-solving and decision-making models can be

taught to officers to improve their decision-making skills.

A classic concept in cognitive psychology that applies to this topic is the multiple

resources approach to attention. This theory suggests that attention is a limited resource and can

be divided among different tasks (Wickens, 2020)). In law enforcement, officers must focus on

various stimuli, such as suspects, victims, and surroundings. During high-stress situations like an

active shooter scenario, law enforcement officers face numerous stimuli and must quickly

determine what is relevant. By utilizing the multiple resources approach to attention, officers can

prioritize relevant information and allocate attentional resources accordingly. For example,

officers can use task prioritization techniques to determine which tasks are most critical to the

situation. This can involve identifying the most pressing threats, determining the shooter's

location, and assessing the number of potential victims. Officers can allocate their limited

attentional resources more effectively by focusing on these critical tasks. Additionally, mental

imagery techniques can improve attentional control during perceived threats. This involves

mentally rehearsing potential scenarios and visualizing different outcomes. By doing so, officers

can better prepare themselves for different situations and react more quickly to potential threats.

Comparison of Primary Research Articles

 4

Participants

Comparing the participants in the two primary sources, it is evident that both studies

involved police officers as the primary participants. However, the number of participants and the

focus of the study differed. The first study by Taylor (2020) had a larger sample size of 306

police officers and focused on the effect of dispatched information on police decision-making. In

contrast, the study by Huhta et al. (2021) had a smaller sample size of only 45 police officers and

focused on the link between personality traits and police behavior during critical incidents.

The choice of participants in both studies is relevant to the research as police officers are

the ones responsible for making critical decisions during perceived threats. The study by Taylor

(2020) highlights the importance of providing accurate and verifiable information to police

officers during dispatch to enhance their decision-making skills. This has implications for future

research on the use of technology to improve the accuracy and timeliness of information

provided to law enforcement agencies. On the other hand, Huhta et al. (2021) study highlights

the importance of incorporating cognitive behavioral approaches in police training programs. By

identifying the behavioral dimensions that vary with different personality traits, future training

programs could be tailored to enhance the strengths and address the vulnerabilities of individual

police officers. This has implications for future research on using technology to incorporate

cognitive behavioral approaches in police training programs.

Measures, tests, and research designs

In comparing the two articles, it is clear that they have used different measures, tests, and

research designs to address the issue of enhancing law enforcement's decisions during perceived

threats. While Apostolakis et al. (2022) used co-creation workshops and law enforcement
 5

experts' evaluations to assess the effectiveness of the AI ecosystem DARLENE, Huhta et al.

(2021) observed and analyzed the police officers' behaviors during critical incidents and their

connection to personality traits.

In terms of the specific domains of cognition mentioned in the articles, Apostolakis et al.

(2022) focused on situational awareness (SA) as the critical factor in enhancing law

enforcement's decision-making during perceived threats. On the other hand, Huhta et al. (2021)

emphasized the importance of incorporating the behavioral dimensions of police officers'

personalities in training programs to identify vulnerabilities or strengths that could be crucial

during critical incidents.

The research methods used in both articles are relevant to the research as they address different

aspects of enhancing law enforcement's decision-making during perceived threats. While

Apostolakis et al. (2022) focused on the effectiveness of technology in real-time decision-

making, Huhta et al. (2021) highlighted the importance of a comprehensive cognitive behavioral

approach to training program development. The results of these studies could inform future

research or different conclusions by suggesting the need to integrate technology and cognitive

behavioral approaches in law enforcement training programs to enhance decision-making under

perceived threats.

Limitations

Comparing the limitations of the two primary sources, both studies had limitations that

could impact the research methodology and the conclusions drawn. Apostolakis et al. (2022) had

a limited sample size in the first source, as the study only involved co-creation workshops with

police officers and a group of law enforcement experts to evaluate the decision-making
 6

mechanism. This limited the diversity of perspectives and experiences that could have been

included, potentially reducing the generalizability of the findings. Additionally, the study was

narrative, which may have limited the accuracy of the findings. In contrast, Huhta et al. (2021)

had a small sample size of around 45 police officers, but the participants' personality types

limited the study. The study only observed police officers in fieldwork simulations, which may

not have accurately captured their real-world behaviors during critical incidents. Furthermore,

the study did not assess the effectiveness of any interventions or solutions but focused on

identifying the behavioral dimensions and their links to personality traits.

In conclusion, technology and cognitive approaches can enhance law enforcement's

decisions during perceived threats. As technology continues to advance, it is essential for law

enforcement agencies to integrate new tools and approaches to ensure public safety and enhance

their effectiveness. Thus, further research and implementation can lead to increased safety for

law enforcement and their communities.

 7

References

Apostolakis, K. C., Dimitriou, N., Margetis, G., Ntoa, S., Tzovaras, D., & Stephanidis, C.

(2022). DARLENE–Improving situational awareness of European law enforcement

agents through a combination of augmented reality and artificial intelligence

solutions. Open Research Europe, pp. 1, 87.

Berk, R. A. (2021). Artificial intelligence, predictive policing, and risk assessment for law

enforcement. Annual review of criminology, pp. 4, 209–237.

Huhta, J. M., Nota, P. M. D., Nyman, M., Pietilä, E., & Ropo, E. (2021). Universal police

behaviors during critical incidents and their connection to personality: A preliminary

study. Nordic Journal of Studies in Policing, 8(1), 1-18.

Taylor, P. L. (2020). Dispatch priming and the police decision to use deadly force. Police

Quarterly, 23(3), 311–332.

Wickens, C. D. (2020). Processing resources and attention. In Multiple-task performance (pp. 3-

34). CRC Press.