Previous research has argued persuasively that first-line police supervisors play a pivotal role in the delivery of police services. Supervisors can make a significant contribution to the development and application of sound police judgment. We will build on and extend previous research, and also examine the utility and impact of body worn cameras (BWC) on the performance of the supervisory role. With the introduction of BWC in 2017, the Albany Police Department will implement a system whereby first-line supervisors regularly review selected BWC footage and use excerpted pieces to address performance issues – police work done well and police work that calls for improvement – with individual officers on a one-on-one basis in “coaching sessions.” Our research will examine: how police supervisors incorporate into a supervisory coaching process information on the quality of officers’ contacts with citizens gleaned from BWC; officers’ responses to this feedback; and the extent to which officers’ performance improves as a result of coaching. The short-term and cumulative impacts of supervisory coaching will be assessed through a randomized experiment and in terms of a number of outcomes, including especially officers’ behavior (measured through systematic social observation) and the subjective judgments of the citizens with whom they interacted.
Supported by the Laura and John Arnold Foundation [January, 2017 – December, 2019]