Date
12-19-2022
Department
Helms School of Government
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Criminal Justice (PhD)
Chair
Jarrod Sadulski
Keywords
Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement, COVID-19, Police Procedures
Disciplines
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Recommended Citation
Roberts, Timothy W., "The Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Law Enforcement Protocols in Middle Appalachian States" (2022). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 4094.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/4094
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic is changing the operational procedures of law enforcement organizations across the United States. The COVID-19 virus has forced police administrators to rethink strategies and procedures dealing with law enforcement’s multiple functions and roles in society. The pandemic is causing unprecedented challenges for law enforcement administrators to balance the organization’s priorities and the safety of officers under their command. The police functions are adapting to include personal protection to prevent the spread of the virus among the law enforcement community. This multiple case qualitative study aimed to show the immediate operational changes in law enforcement since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data from interviews with law enforcement officers were analyzed in this study to identify themes and patterns. The data showed significant changes in law enforcement policies and procedures occurring after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The interviews included law enforcement officers with a minimum of five years of experience as full-time officers in the middle Appalachia region of the United States. Results provided details about operational procedures and how these changes affected law enforcement.
