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:
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Rural Law Enforcement
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Federal Law Enforcement
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Police Culture
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Qualitative Methods
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Police & K-12 School Safety Options
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Police Decision-Making Skills
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Police Training
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Policing & Higher Education
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International Criminal Justice Systems
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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.