Explaining police attitudes toward use of force: The case of Buenos Aires

Purpose – In this study we set out to explain police support for the use of force, police response to a vignette about force, and police self-reported use of force. Methodology/Approach – The computer-assisted survey was conducted among 419 officers of the Metropolitana police department in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Findings – The regression analyses show that a substantial part of how officers view force, and the reported frequency of their own use of force, can be explained through demographic characteristics, organizational features, attitudes toward citizens, and personal experience. Originality/Value – This study was conducted in a region where excessive police use of force is unfortunately a continuing concern. Based on the results we advice police organizations to tackle this issue by investing in improving police attitudes toward both internal and external relations. We also recommend prohibiting officers to carry the regulatory gun while off duty, in order to reduce deaths of both civilians and officers. Keywords: police attitudes; use of force; Buenos Aires, vignette

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