Date

5-20-2026

Department

Helms School of Government

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Criminal Justice (PhD)

Chair

Joel Rivera

Keywords

digital recruitment strategies, law enforcement recruitment, social media recruitment, police staffing, recruitment crisis, digital transformation, law enforcement hiring

Disciplines

Leadership Studies

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative study will be to explore how law enforcement leaders implement and evaluate digital recruitment strategies (DRS) to address staffing challenges in Kansas police departments. The central research question guiding this study is: How do law enforcement leaders in Kansas, utilize digital recruitment strategies to attract qualified candidates in the post-George Floyd era? This qualitative study included three focus groups with law enforcement leaders and recruitment personnel representing departments of varying sizes. Additionally, this study utilized semi-structured interviews with law enforcement leaders and recruitment personnel from 30 different Kansas police departments. The research was conducted across multiple law enforcement agencies in Kansas, encompassing urban, suburban, and rural contexts to ensure representation of diverse organizational environments and recruitment challenges. Through examining the implementation and perceived effectiveness of social media and other digital platforms in police recruitment, this study will address a significant gap in both scholarly and practitioner literature regarding the efficacy of digital recruitment in law enforcement. The findings contributed to the development of evidence-based digital recruitment strategies for police departments, providing valuable insights into effective approaches for attracting qualified and diverse candidates while navigating the complex social environment characterized by evolving public attitudes toward law enforcement and increased emphasis on departmental accountability and transparency.

Download

Share

COinS