Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Determining The Level Of Cultural Competence Of College Police Departments: A Study Of Three Different Campuses, Michelle Fletcher, Randolph Burnside, Stephanie Pink-Harper

Journal of Public Management & Social Policy

This research examines the understanding that police chiefs on three college campuses have about cultural competence and determines how organizationally integrated cultural competence is in their police departments. This article uses semi-structured interviews and surveys to determine the levels and organizational integration of cultural competence. The findings indicate that there are varying degrees of cultural competence across the three departments. This was primarily based on three factors: the level of understanding of cultural competence, the emphasis placed on promoting cultural competence by departmental leadership, and administrative or legal barriers. Given the complexity of cultural competence, the article concludes by offering …