Agency culture and the banality of risk

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role that agency culture, training, and supervision play in the rates of on-the-job seatbelt use among peace officers, as well as other officer safety-related driving concerns such as cell phone use, Mobile Data Terminal use, and other sources of distraction.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on semi-structured interviews with California peace officers.

Findings

This study found an array of agency culture issues related to on-duty collisions, including distraction, failure to follow policy or procedure, fatigue, self-selection processes among officers and agencies, supervision and field training processes, morale issues, and family/lifestyle issues.

Originality/value

To explain these agency culture findings, this paper introduces the concept of the “banality of risk” to understand why many officers choose not to use risk-attenuating equipment. The findings are suggestive of a set of best practices that agencies could consider regarding in-vehicle officer safety.

Citation

Wehr, K. (2015), "Agency culture and the banality of risk", Policing: An International Journal, Vol. 38 No. 3, pp. 539-562. https://doi.org/10.1108/PIJPSM-03-2015-0025