Date

10-14-2026

Department

Helms School of Government

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Criminal Justice (PhD)

Chair

Vincent Giordano

Keywords

Extremism, Supervisor, Prevent

Disciplines

Leadership Studies | Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration

Abstract

The presence of political extremism among active-duty law enforcement represents a very real threat to the safety of citizens and the integrity of the policing profession. The purpose of this study was to have law enforcement supervisors describe what their agencies are doing to identify and prevent political extremism among active-duty officers in Utah. Law enforcement supervisors from three specifically chosen case-study agencies were invited to participate via a combination of semi-structured in-person interviews and an online survey. The findings of this study demonstrate the challenges law enforcement supervisors face in addressing extremism among officers while thoroughly highlighting the lack of a formal definition or policy to aid them in their efforts, the inadequacy of existing training for supervisors regarding extremism, the lack of effective identification strategies and an almost complete reliance on the individual supervisor’s personal perception regarding what behaviors may be indicative of extremism among officers. This study includes many theoretical and practical implications which together provide a framework for law enforcement agencies to improve future efforts in addressing extremism among officers.

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