Research Agenda
Research Interests
Josh’s main research interests are policing and the perceptions of law enforcement officers. He believes that understanding an officer’s perceptions will improve policing.
​
He is also interested in the following areas:
-
Rural Law Enforcement
-
Federal Law Enforcement
-
Police Culture
-
Qualitative Methods
-
Police & K-12 School Safety Options
-
Police Decision-Making Skills
-
Police Training
-
Policing & Higher Education
-
International Criminal Justice Systems
-
Serial Killers
Current Research
Projects
Project #1
Officers' Perceptions of the Texas Guardian Program
In September 2023, Texas implemented a law requiring armed personnel in K-12 public schools. This study uses qualitative interviews to examine officers' perceptions of the law and their understanding of the armed personnel.
Project #2
The Rural Police Chief
The rural police chief is a "jack-all-trades." This study examines what that means and the daily operations of a chief in a small rural community.
Project #3
Who are the Police?
This study examines how law enforcement agencies explain themselves and their actions to the public at large.