Shifting patterns for police service during the 2021 Texas ice storm: implications for policy and practice
When major weather events occur, police officers are often called upon to provide an array of emergency services to the community. In February of 2021, a major winter storm brought significant amounts of snow, ice, and sub-freezing temperatures to the state of Texas. Many residents and businesses ex...
| Authors: | ; ; |
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| Format: | Print Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2025
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| In: |
Routledge international handbook of policing crises and emergencies
Year: 2025, Pages: 87-100 |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Summary: | When major weather events occur, police officers are often called upon to provide an array of emergency services to the community. In February of 2021, a major winter storm brought significant amounts of snow, ice, and sub-freezing temperatures to the state of Texas. Many residents and businesses experienced loss to their utility services at some point during the storm. The combined effects of the adverse weather, the intermittent loss of utility services, and the general lack of preparation to respond to major winter weather events resulted in the storm having a catastrophic impact on Texans. As is often the case in other major crisis events, police services in Texas were required to not only fulfil their normal duties but also help Texans work through the effects of the winter storm. Using call-for-service data from the San Antonio Police Department, this chapter provides empirical evidence to highlight how the role of policing shifted during the 2021 winter storm. Results indicate that the winter storm was associated with a significant decrease in traffic-related police calls and a consistent flow of other non-crime-based policing events (e.g. welfare checks). Property and interpersonal crimes were slightly reduced during the winter storm. Additional results highlight that the various characteristics of the storm may also be useful for explaining the changing role of the police. Weather events like sub-freezing temperatures and precipitation can have a meaningful impact on the quantity and quality of police work. Policy recommendations such as improved preparedness training for police and the public are suggested to help mitigate the impact of future adverse weather events in Texas. |
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| Item Description: | Literaturverzeichnis: Seite 98-100 |
| Physical Description: | Diagramme |
| ISBN: | 9781032207872 |
