Reducing public complaints and use of force: the Portland Police Bureau experience
| Date | 05 December 2016 |
| Published date | 05 December 2016 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JCRPP-12-2015-0054 |
| Pages | 260-273 |
| Author | Tim Prenzler,Tyler Cawthray,Louise E. Porter,Geoffrey P. Alpert |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology |
Reducing public complaints and
use of force: the Portland Police
Bureau experience
Tim Prenzler, Tyler Cawthray, Louise E. Porter and Geoffrey P. Alpert
Tim Prenzler is based at Faculty
of Arts and Business, University
of the Sunshine Coast,
Queensland, Australia.
Tyler Cawthray is a Researcher
and Louise E. Porter is a Senior
Lecturer, both at the School of
Criminology and Criminal
Justice, Griffith University,
Brisbane, Australia.
Geoffrey P. Alpert is based at
the School of Criminology and
Criminal Justice, Griffith
University, Brisbane, Australia.
Abstract
Purpose –From 2002 to 2014, the Portland Police Bureau reported large reductions in complaints against
officers and use of force indicators. The purpose of this paper is to develop a case study to document these
changes and explore possible influences.
Design/methodology/approach –The paper maps the changes in conduct indicators against the
developing relationship between the Bureau and the Portland Independent Police Review Division, and
changes in policies and procedures.
Findings –Public complaints reduced by 54.4 per cent, while the rate of specific allegations per officer fell by
70.1 per cent. Quarterly use of force incident reports were reduced by 65.4 per cent between 2008 and
2014. Annual average shootings decreased from a high of nine per year across 1997-2002 to just below four
per year in 2009-2014. Fatal shootings also trended downward but remained two per year in the last three
years on record. Reforms instituted during this period that may have influenced these trends include a more
rigorous complaints process, an early intervention system (EIS), enhanced external and internal review
mechanisms, policy changes and training initiatives.
Research limitations/implications –The researchers were unable to control for a range of additional
variables that may have influenced the findings, including police deployments and changes in officer
demographics.
Practical implications –The study provides support for strategies to improve police conduct including
external oversight, diagnostic research, training focussed on de-escalation and minimal force, and complaint
profiling and EISs.
Originality/value –There are very few studies available showing large long-term reductions in adverse
police conduct indicators.
Keywords Policing, Use of force, Training/professionalization, Complaints against police, Police conduct,
Police integrity management
Paper type Research paper
Background
Across 2014 and 2015 police in the USA faced a major public backlash over excessive force,
oppressive conduct and racial discrimination allegations associated with high profile fatal
shootings. President Barrack Obama went so far as to state that a “simmering distrust”existed
between police and minority communities (in Holland and Edwards, 2014, p. 1). The situation
served to highlightthe importance of identifyingpolicing practices thatreduce force and encourage
positive relations between police and their communities. The establishment of effective oversight
measures and complaintprocesses, as well as proactive policy andtraining reforms around force
tactics, form an important part of this framework for action (Department of Justice, 2015).
Received 9 December 2015
Revised 28 January 2016
Accepted 28 January 2016
PAGE260
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JOURNAL OF CRIMINOLOGICAL RESEARCH, POLICY AND PRACTICE
j
VOL. 2 NO. 4 2016, pp.260-273, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2056-3841 DOI 10.1108/JCRPP-12-2015-0054
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