Police training academies in the state of Texas and their response to the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT

This study focused on how police training academies in the State of Texas responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. A researcher-created survey was used to answer the three research questions posed. Research Question One asked Are there differences between the three types of police training academies and their effectiveness in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic? The responses showed that there were no differences based on the type of police training academy and their effectiveness in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study also explored capable guardianship, an element that has been explored by criminal justice/criminology researchers, but comes from the original theoretical framework of the Routine Activity Theory developed by Cohen & Felson (1979). Research question two asked Are there differences between the genders of the directors/training coordinators and how safe they felt entering their police training academies? The responses showed that there were no differences between the genders of the directors/training coordinators and how safe they felt entering their police training academies during the pandemic making them capable guardians.Research question three asked Are there differences between the genders of the directors/training coordinators and whether they viewed themselves as capable guardians? The responses showed that there were significant differences between the genders of the directors/training coordinators and whether they viewed themselves as capable guardians. The results of this study also provided direction for future research on police training academies operating during a pandemic. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)