What makes a good police officer? Phenomenological reflections from the African‐American community

This paper reports the results of a study using a phenomenological method. The study investigates two questions: (1) what are African‐Americans’ perceptions of the police following contact with a police officer, and (2) what are the qualities that African‐Americans think are important for police officers to possess. Data were gathered through semi‐structured interviews over a three‐month period with 32 African‐American participants. The findings suggest that African‐Americans viewed a positive contact with the police when the officer utilized human relations traits such as cultural sensitivity, empathy, and fairness. The qualities deemed important by African‐Americans for a police officer to possess were congruent with human relations qualities. The implications for police practice and research are discussed.