STUDENTS' PERCEPTIONS OF CAMPUS POLICE OFFICERS ON TWO-YEAR COLLEGE CAMPUSES

Blythe King

Abstract

Campus law enforcement officers are a necessary component to the college environment. Over the last decade, law enforcement officers and their practices have been scrutinized nationally and have become the topic of a heated debate over the necessity of the profession. The purpose of this study was to investigate students’ perceptions of campus police officers on two-year college campuses. Specifically, this study examined the students’ understanding of the unique roles of campus police officers. Additionally, this study assessed students’ trust in the abilities of campus police officers to provide a safe learning environment. Key results indicated that students lack an awareness of their own safety while on campus. Additionally, the participants differed in their understanding of the duties and responsibilities of campus police officers. This study identified the need for initiatives and programming to provide better opportunities for students and campus police officers to interact in positive, meaningful ways.

Keywords: campus police officers, law enforcement, student safety