RT Article
T1 The role of context in understanding the use of tactical officers: A brief research note
JF International journal of police science & management
VO 23
IS 4
SP 385
OP 391
A1 Jenkins, Bryce
A2 Semple, Tori
A2 Bennell, Craig
A2 Huey, Laura
LA English
YR 2021
UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/1775776018
AB A small body of research suggests that the use of police tactical officers has become normalized in that they now commonly respond to “routine” calls rather than being restricted to high-risk situations. However, this research has tended to rely on crude data (i.e., call type), which fails to account for the context of the calls (e.g., the presence of potential risk factors that might warrant tactical resources). In this brief research note, we sought to expand upon previous literature by examining the risk factors associated with tactical calls in a Canadian police service. We found that various risk factors were present in many of the calls that tactical officers responded to, some of which might be classified as “routine” (suicide threats, well-being checks, domestic disturbances, etc.). The presence of such risk factors highlights the need to consider context when attempting to understand the use (and consequences) of tactical officers. More rigorous tracking of these factors by police services will facilitate such research and inform policies around the use of tactical resources.
K1 police data
K1 Freedom of information
K1 Contextual factors
K1 Risk assessment
K1 Special Weapons and Tactics
K1 police tactical units
K1 Police militarization
K1 Police
DO 10.1177/14613557211036721