Shaping officer behaviour through training and policy

Academic research aimed at measuring changes in officer behaviour typically focuses on agencies’ implementation of new training or modifications to policy. However, programmes to change officer behaviour are more likely to be successful when changes in policies are coupled with effective training. This paper reviews the importance of coupling training and policy changes to maximize the chances of modifying an officer’s behaviour. As an example, we present results from a quasi-experimental evaluation of a training programme paired with a policy modification regarding the application of an electronic control weapon (ECW). The evaluation used videos of a use-of-force encounter integrated into a pre- and post-survey asking officers for their recommended levels of force in the encounter. Results demonstrate that officers evaluated the circumstance differently after completing the training component and were less likely to recommend the use of the ECW.