Police Practice and Research, 2002, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 149–156

WRITING PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN POLICE

PRACTITIONERS AND RESEARCHERS

MICHAEL L. BIRZER

School of Applied Studies, Criminal Justice Department, Washburn University,1700 SW College Ave., Topeka, Kansas 66621, USA

(Received 6 April 1999; In final form 6 June 2001)

This paper explores the prospects and possibilities of a police researcher and practitioner writing partnership.The advantages and complexities of creating such a partnership are discussed. The author concludes thata writing partnership and greater collaboration between police researchers and practitioners is needed.Furthermore, the paper identifies selected policing research journals and trade magazines and examineswhat they report and who contributes to them.

Keywords: Police practitioner; Researcher; Partnership

INTRODUCTION

As we enter into the 21st century, police practitioners and researchers alike can onlyponder what the new millennium will have in store for the policing profession. Whatwill policing be like in 2010, 2020 or 2050? Policing has been through a myriad ofchanges throughout much of 20th century. As we concluded the final chapter of the20th century, policing once again was at the crossroads of change, very similar to itspredicament shortly after the turn of the 20th century (transition from political strate-gies to reform strategies).

Community oriented policing is the driving force behind much of the change takingplace today in policing (Mastrofski, 1988; Trojanowicz and Bucqueroux, 1994; Danzkeret al., 1995; Champion and Rush, 1997; Thurman and McGarrell, 1997; Palmiottoet al., 2000). In order for change to become effective and consistent, researchers andpractitioners should work to align themselves in one harmonious direction strivingfor the same goals. In essence, one is dependent upon the other.

The purpose of this discourse is to initiate dialogue in support of a writing partner-ship between police researchers and police practitioners. A scattering of journals andtrade magazines are identified for the purpose of examining what is reported, and bywhom. The underpinning of this explores the possibilities of a journal that bothpolice researchers and practitioners can contribute to in a collaborative manner.

ISSN 1561-4263 print: ISSN 1477-271X online � 2002 Taylor & Francis Ltd

DOI: 10.1080/15614260290033648

COLLABORATION

It is important for police practitioners to stay abreast of the latest research findings inthe profession. Of parallel importance, researchers must become more in tune with thedaily rigors of police practice. This will enable researchers to better conceptualize thepractical application of policing which subsequently may foster more appropriatetheory development. These approaches would assuredly provide more meaningful andcognitive levels of understanding on the part of both police practitioners and research-ers. How can researchers stay more abreast of the day-to-day rigors of policing?What are the prospects and possibilities of a police researcher writing partnership?

One plausible answer to these perplexing questions for researchers is to observeofficers in the field by riding around with them during their duty hours. This practiceon the part of police researchers may rescue cognitive and technical issues that aremany times nebulous from the isolated purity of academia. For example, it may be ben-eficial for researchers to observe detective operations with the ojective being to moreclearly understand the routine of investigations. This may foster a more effective tran-sition of theory for the researcher who has an interest in the investigations function.One other method to enhance a researcher’s understanding of the daily grind ofpolice work is to conduct a sabbatical within a police organization. This would be agrand opportunity for a researcher to glean appropriate information in order to stayabreast of current police practice. This may prove to be a rejuvenating experience onthe part of researchers. For example, researchers at times become so ingrained in theworld of academic research that they overlook that a practical reality exists.Researchers may glean invaluable insight on the appropriateness of the fit betweenresearch and practice by spending time at a police organization. Researchers shouldnot ignore the experience and knowledge base of rank and file police practitioners.Thus, a sabbatical conducted within a police agency for the purpose of study is oneway in which the researcher can tap into this invaluable knowledge base.

JOURNALS AND TRADE MAGAZINES

The very essence of this important issue brings to light a host of salient questions. Howdo researchers and practitioners more closely align themselves? How do they share thefindings of empirical evaluations? Are the current journals which report research con-ducive to police practitioners? And, who reads and contributes to which journals?

The availability of scholarly journals for police practitioners outside of the realm ofa personal subscription are in large dependent upon the college or university located inthe geographical area, and many times this is dependent upon the existence of criminaljustice programs. For example, Wichita State University located in Wichita, Kansasoffers a B.S. and M.A. in criminal justice. A query of the Wichita State UniversityAblah Library holdings of the policing scholarly journals and trade magazines revealedthe following are available: Policing: An International Journal of Strategies andManagement, Law and Order Magazine, Police Chief Magazine and F.B.I. LawEnforcement Bulletin. Furthermore, the library holds an array of criminological jour-nals, which occasionally present research data on policing. At the time of this writing,the Policing: International Journal of Strategies and Management was the only scholarlypolicing journal being held at the university’s library.

150 M.L. BIRZER

Upon querying the journal, Policing: International Journal of Strategies andManagement, it is clear that a majority of the contributors are persons from theacademic realm. On occasion, a practitioner’s name can be found as a contributorbut this is rare. If one were to skim previous journals that have merged with other jour-nals (i.e., American Journal of Police, Police Studies), it would be common to find manyof the articles organized in the following manner, introduction, purpose of study, meth-odology, data analysis, findings and conclusion. Furthermore, it would be common tofind such language in the data analysis section as chi-square analysis, t-test, correlationcoefficients, analysis of variance, regression analysis, etc. The point to be made here, isthat empirically based articles are important from the perspective of evaluating whatworks and what does not in policing, but many police practitioners may ignore readinga research based article unless it is required for a college related course.

A query of the divergence of policing trade magazines which are available at theWichita State’s Ablah Library as noted previously, included: The F.B.I. LawEnforcement Bulletin, Police Chief Magazine and Law and Order Magazine. It is alsoimportant to note that many states which have peace officer associations, publish amagazine which is inclusive of developments in the field. For example, in the State ofKansas, the Kansas Peace Officers Association publishes a tri-monthly magazine,which present a host of practice related issues.

The author has personal knowledge that the Sedgwick County Sheriff ’s Departmentlocated in Wichita, Kansas, subscribes to the following periodicals, which are madeavailable to departmental members: John Jay College Law Enforcement News, F.B.I.Law Enforcement Bulletin, Police Chief Magazine, Crime Prevention News, Law andOrder Magazine, Barretta Leadership Bulletin, National Sheriff ’s AssociationMagazine and Police Technology Magazine. Based upon the author’s anecdotalaccounts from police practitioners, trade magazines are read on a more frequentbasis when compared to the scholarly research oriented journals.

Many of the police trade magazines provide cookbook approaches to policing andoften, this is exactly the information desired from police practitioners. It is also inter-esting to point out that based on the author’s discussions with police practitioners, itwas revealed that many of them have never reviewed a scholarly journal and those thathad, as noted previously, were required to do so for a college assignment. Upon query-ing practitioners, it was discovered through anecdotal accounts that very few couldidentify scholarly policing journals. The exceptions were those practitioners who wereinvolved in college study. The practitioners attending college had read scholarlyjournals and were familiar with where to access them at their university’s library.

So why do practitioners tend to avoid reading scholarly journals given light of thefact that the information reported may be beneficial to practice? On problem may bethat some practitioners may not immediately recognize the significance of a researchbased article and how empirical evaluations can assist them in more effectively concep-tualizing the important alliance between research and practice. Practitioners desirehands on practical material that they can read and decipher the answers to problemsfaced in practice. They want to read material that can be taken and applied immediatelywithin their organizational setting. Police practitioners want to read about practicalmethods that can be utilized everyday in real life settings. The large majority of contri-butors to the practitioner-based magazines are practitioners themselves who have asound understanding of the complexities of everyday police practice and articles arewritten from this rich insight.

WRITING PARTNERSHIP 151

There are a number of journals, which appear to have made laudatory strides inoffering practice-oriented articles. One such journal is the Journal of CommunityPolicing, which is published by the College of Liberal Studies, at the University ofOklahoma in cooperation with the Oklahoma Regional Community PolicingInstitute. This journal provides practical insight into community policing issues.However, a salient paradox still exists when skimming this journal. Members fromacademia are still the majority of contributors and there is still a serious void incontributions from practitioners. Are there any clear-cut solutions to this complexity?What types of journals are necessary in order for researchers and practitioners to gleanthe information that is desired from both realms?

One journal, Police Practice and Research: An International Journal, is currentlymaking attempts to encourage practitioners to submit manuscripts. In this journal’saims and scope, it is clearly written that articles and reports are sought from prac-titioners, researchers and others interested in developments in policing. The editorialaim is also written to reflect that it is the goal of the journal to improve cooperationbetween those who are active in the field and those involved in academic research,as such a relationship is essential for innovative police work. Even with thisimprovement, several important questions and issues remain. What is the bestmechanism to create such a writing merger between practitioners and researchers?What is the best method to provide practitioners and students of policing with theproper information and skills necessary to police society? Thus, a writing partnershipmust be created in a manner that fulfills the needs of both police practitioners andresearchers.

INTEGRATION

The answer to the questions queried here may in part be found in other disciplines.Police researchers and practitioners alike may glean some direction from the currentdebate in the area of vocational and adult educational studies. Specifically, thedebate pertaining to the integration of curriculum theory into vocational preparation.Some scholars have argued that one of the most basic issues pertaining to integration ofacademic theory and vocational preparation involves the distinction between knowingwhat and knowing how (Kincheloe, 1995). Kincheloe (1995) proposed a model, whichhe labeled a ‘‘critical integrated pedagogy.’’ This model is one that advocates the teach-ing and merging of practitioners and academics so that they both have more exposure,insight and understanding of each other. It is possible that through such integrationthat police researchers and practitioners may develop deeper cognitive levels of under-standing into issues pertaining to both practice and research. Such integration may bea means to develop the motivation and capitalize upon the intellectual capacity ofpractitioners.

Upon examination of Kincheloe’s underlying thesis and applying it to the policingrealm, the crux of the issue becomes clear. The issue revolving around the debate onmerging academic and vocational preparation is strikingly similar to the underpinningsof this discourse. Hence, this is one avenue in which practitioners and researchers cancomplement each other. For example, it is important for practitioners to have an under-standing of current policing research and the implications it has on actual practice. It isequally important for researchers to understand the effects that empirical research has

152 M.L. BIRZER

on actual police practice. In essence, the two are mutually reinforcing. Darkenwald andMerriam (1982) found that in the broadest sense that theory alone, without how it linksto practice, leads to empty idealism. In the policing profession a sound workingpartnership between researchers and practitioners have been somewhat nebulousand lacking any type of established protocol. This has to change.

RESEARCH AND PRACTICE

Research has played an invaluable role in shaping the manner in which police operatetoday. It is important that a protocol for the transition of theory to practice be estab-lished. However, it is recognized that the transition from theory to practice may be asvexing as one might realistically expect. This in no way should downplay the import-ance of establishing a common path for theory and practice to merge. Merging policingand practice increasingly becomes important in the 21st century due to the dynamic andever changing society that policing must respond to and keep up with.

Petersilia (1989) eloquently summarized the influence of research on policing and thisscholar’s underlying thesis is a point that is well recognized in the literature. Petersiliaasserted that research has shaped and influenced policing in such areas as patrolmethodologies, patrol deployment, criminal investigations. It should also be notedthat research findings have shed light on a sundry of other important issues includingthe importance of citizens reporting crime to the police. The empirical evaluations ofpolicing have debunked many previous myths that were once solidly ingrained in thehegemonic culture of policing. One could hardly debate this observation particularlywith the growing community policing philosophy, which evolved in large part frommany years of research and analyses.

Research drives fundamental policy in policing. Without research, policy would bequite haphazard. Policy decision-making in the public sector, including policing,should be based at least in part on research findings (Bromley, 1999). The argumentmade here that research should in part drive policy in policing is not new. It hasbeen pointed out in the literature that police organizations should evaluate their effec-tiveness by utilizing both quantitative and qualitative research (Brown and Curtis,1967; Peak and Glensor, 1999; Palmiotto, 2000). Admittedly, much of the researchfound in scholarly journals may not be immediately applicable to police practitioners,but nevertheless, they should remain current with the data for future considerations onpractice. Police administrators in recent years have begun to recognize that withoutresearch and experimentation, new ideas about police programs would never be imple-mented (Stone and Deluka, 1994: 92).

There is clear dichotomy between sound practice and the benefit of research.Atheoretical practice is practice, which occurs without the direction and guidance oftheory. In some cases, police organizations function and make major decisions basedon atheoretical approaches. For example, a police administrator may survey rankand file police officers in an effort to determine their attitudes. This is an admirabletask on the part of the administration; however, it is all too often that the theoryand/or research underpinnings are nonexistent. In other words, are the goals and objec-tives of the survey clearly evident and how will the data be utilized. More importantly,how will the data affect practice? Theory, research, development and practice together,

WRITING PARTNERSHIP 153

compose a vital process that allows ideas to be progressively generated and refined asthey evolve from concepts to practices and from practices to concepts.

PROSPECTS AND POSSIBILITIES

It is very timely to initiate dialogue on the prospects and possibilities of a practitionerand researcher partnership in the area of writing and research. As we explore and initi-ate active dialogue on a protocol for a writing partnership between police practitionersand police researchers, the current climate in policing is now one that may more realis-tically accomplish this goal. As policing moves towards community oriented strategiesand away from the traditional model which was far more paternal, officers will be urgedto develop programs that are proactive in nature (Carter and Radelet, 1999). As a cor-ollary feature to the nature of this change, the issue of college educated police becomesmore critical. The idea of college educated police has a vast amount of relevance withinthe context of the current discussion. This may provide a gauge and opportunity forpractitioners and researchers to collaborate on evolving strategies. It should also pro-vide an avenue for practitioners and researchers to initiate more dialogue with oneanother. In the era of community based policing this becomes fundamental and crucial.

Practitioners and researchers must have an appropriate means in which they canshare information from both a research and practice perspective. At the present time,it appears that most practitioners contribute to trade magazines, and the majority ofresearchers contribute to the scholarly refereed journals. This is problematic in somuch that many practitioners read the trade journals for developments in the fieldand most researchers read refereed journals for the latest empirical data in the field.However, it is recognized that many researchers prepare manuscripts in the scholarlyjournals and on some occasions an additional article for the trade journals. The import-ant point brought to light here is that practitioners themselves should be involved inthis process. Practitioners should be heard as to how research could appropriatelyfilter into practice. Clearly there has to be an avenue between these two resources topresent both the practical information and the research data. Ideally, this journalwould be one that both practitioners and researchers could contribute and refer tofor information. The journal should ideally contain information of how a researchfinding will affect police practice.

It would be beneficial to initiate a journal where empirical based articles areapproached from two viewpoints. First, the research data gleaned through study andanalyses would be reported. This should follow the protocol for a research-basedstudy (e.g., data, methods, findings, and conclusions). After the data and findings arereported, what is then needed is a follow up manuscript that addresses how the studywill affect current or future practice. It may be possible for a researcher to collaboratewith a practitioner when writing the article. In essence, this journal would present bothempirical based articles and a corollary article describing what implications the researchreported will have on practice. This approach has several clear advantages. One, it willgive the practitioner more exposure to the empirical findings in the profession. Second,it will allow researchers to contribute to a journal which is relevant for tenure and pro-motion purposes, hence, minimizing the argument that trade journal publications areusually very weak for academic promotional purposes. Third, a journal arrangementsuch as this will foster more partnerships between researchers and practitioners.

154 M.L. BIRZER

For example, as noted previously, the researcher and practitioner would collaborateon the writing with two clear purposes. The police practitioner would address the impli-cations gleaned from the research to enhance practice. The researcher would report theresults of the research and how it fits into the broader scholarship of police studies.

Currently a journal that exclusively explores and examines viewpoints from bothpractitioners and researchers has not been developed to its fullest. There have beensome scholars that have succeeded in bringing together research and practice in theform of a book. One succinct example of this is the book Community Policing in aRural Setting. Quint C. Thurman and Edmund F. McGarrell (1997) edited this elo-quent piece of work. The underpinnings of these authors treatise center on empiricallybased data that is presented in a form that literally explains what implications the datawill have on practice. The book also offers insight and contributions from both scholarsand practitioners. Thurman and McGarrell (1997) asserted that the purpose of theirbook is to provide a starting place for answering the questions most frequently askedabout community policing. These authors related that their book is dedicated to helpingagencies in small towns and rural counties find a community policing focus whetherthey ‘‘invented’’ the concept or not. This book should serve as a starting referenceand guiding point for a journal. One other salient feature of the book is that thedata are presented in a form and manner in which readers can readily identify the impli-cations of research on practice with little difficulty.

The challenges of creating a journal discussed in this discourse will be abundant, butthey can be overcome. One such challenge will be attracting practitioners to submit toa refereed journal. One mechanism that may be part of the panacea is to appointreviewers or representatives for a specific journal to actively solicit manuscripts frompractitioners. In colleges and universities across America there is a divergence of practi-tioners enrolled in criminal justice programs. Professors are in a good position to iden-tify practitioners who may be interested in writing about a specific policing area andsolicit them to submit a manuscript. Many practitioners, particularly those enrolledin graduate programs may eagerly pursue the opportunity to contribute, if only asked.

One additional method to solicit input from practitioners is by actually contactingselected police agencies with the purpose of soliciting manuscripts that are practitioneroriented. Commanders and supervisors within these agencies could solicit and queryinterest on the park of rank and file police officers for the writing and submission ofspecific practice based manuscripts.

CONCLUSION

Those who study, teach and research policing should increasingly develop and maintainsound partnerships with practitioners. Furthermore, practitioners should allowresearchers greater access to their agencies for the purpose of study and analyses.The relationship between practitioners and researchers has improved two-fold duringthe past decade. One of the many reasons for this may be the ever-growing trend of col-legiate officer programs. These programs allow students to work toward obtaining theirbachelors degree while also obtaining state law enforcement certification. Colleges anduniversities that offer these programs work in partnership with law enforcement.Typically these colleges and universities employ former police officers to teach the

WRITING PARTNERSHIP 155

skills portion of the program. This is one mechanism that may foster a more melodiousrelationship between police researchers and practitioners.

The partnership between practitioners and researchers will have to more fullyblossom into a meaningful collaboration if evolving police strategies are to becomefully effective. If this is accomplished, it will assuredly result in a much more salubriousstate for both researchers and practitioners when developing theory and practicalprotocol. This means that practitioners will increasingly have to view research as thefoundation for policy and practice. Likewise, researchers will have to increasinglyrecognize that multiple realities exist beyond the ivory tower and that by tappinginto the rich experience base of practitioners is one avenue to more fully understandthe multivariable world of policing.

So the stage is set, it is recognized that journals that offer perspective and lively dia-logue on current and emerging policing issues from practitioners and researchers alikeare not only desired but sorely needed. At a time when policing is undergoing dynamicchange with evolving community oriented policing strategies it becomes imperative forpractitioners and researchers to share their findings, thoughts and experiences throughthe merger of a writing partnership.

References

Bromley, M.L. (1999). Should a college degree be required for today’s law enforcement officer. In: Sewell,J.D. (Ed.), Controversial Issues in Policing. Allyn and Bacon, Boston.

Brown, S.E. and Curtis, J.H. (1967). Fundamentals in Criminal Justice Research. Anderson, Cincinnati, OH.Carter, D.L. and Radelet, L.A. (1999). The Police and the Community, 6th Edn. Prentice-Hall, Inc. Saddle

River, NJ.Champion, D.J. and Rush, G.E. (1997). Policing in the Community. Prentice Hall, New Jersey.Dantzker, G., Lurigio, A.J., Hartnett, S., Houmes, S., Davidsdottir, S. and Donovan, K. (1995). Preparing

police officers for community policing: an evaluation of training for Chicago’s alternative policing strat-egy. Police Studies, XVIII(1), 46.

Darkenwald, G.D. and Merriam, S.B. (1982). Adult Education: Foundations and Practice. Harper-Collins,New York.

Kincheloe, J.L. (1995). Toil and Trouble: Good Work, Smart Workers, and the Integration of Academic andVocational Education. Peter Lang Publishing Inc., New York.

Mastrofski, S.D. (1988). Community policing as reform: a cautionary tale. In: Green, Jack R. and Mastrofski,Stephen D. (Eds.), Community Policing: Rhetoric or Reality, p. 49. Praeger, New York.

Palmiotto, M.J. (2000). Community Policing: A Policing Strategy for the 21st Century. Aspen Puslishing,Gaithersburg, MD.

Palmiotto, M.J., Birzer, M.L. and Unnithan, N.P. (2000). Training in community policing: a suggested cur-riculum. Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies and Management, 23(1), 8–21.

Peak, K.J. and Glensor, R.W. (1999). Community Policing and Problem Solving: Strategies and Practices.Prentice Hall, New Jersey.

Petersilia, J. (1989). The influence of research on policing. In: Dunham, R. and Alpert, G.P. (Eds.), CriticalIssues in Policing: Contemporary Readings. Waveland Press, Inc., Prospect Heights, Ill.

Stone, A.R. and DeLuka, S.M. (1994). Police Administration: An Introduction. Prentice Hall, New Jersey.Thurman, Q.C. and McGarrell, E.F. (1997). Community Policing in a Rural Setting. Anderson Publishing Co,

Cincinnati, OH.Trojanowicz, R. and Bucqueroux, B. (1994). Community Policing: How to Get Started. Anderson Printing Co,

Cincinnati, OH.

156 M.L. BIRZER