Police Departments, Glenn College Researchers Join Forces in Supervisor Study

Experts at Ohio State’s John Glenn College of Public Affairs will collaborate with the Minneapolis Police Department, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and Columbus (Ohio) Division of Police on the three-year project. They will conduct case studies to examine selection, training and evaluation practices of first-line supervisors such as corporals, sergeants and lieutenants, the first level of command over officers and investigators.

The Glenn College multidisciplinary research team, which has expertise in first-line police supervision developed over four decades of academic study and practical experience, will disseminate the study findings to inform practice and policy changes for police executives, policymakers, community leaders and first-line supervisors.

“This research, informed in multiple ways by the experiences of police professionals, will support the identification of both common and best practices in first-line supervision to provide actionable information and recommendations,” said Robin Engel, senior research scientist at the Glenn College, who leads the study. “This will help agencies in the Great Lakes region and across the country enhance the quality of first-line supervision, advancing organizational changes and policing practices.”

At the Columbus (Ohio) Division of Police, Assistant Chief Gregory J. Bodker said the division hopes to gain from the study clear strategies on how to relieve workload, improve supervisory support, and enhance operational effectiveness and efficiencies.

“We want to gain deeper insight into the daily pressures, decision-making dynamics, and stressors that first-line supervisors face,” Bodker said.

Minneapolis Police Department Deputy Chief Jon Kingsbury said that in his department, first-line supervisors face challenges including administrative workloads that keep them in the station as well as policy changes, memos and directives, and other guidance that can be both overwhelming and inconsistent with practice.

“It’s important for us to continue to build up our first-line supervisors, who compared to supervisors of years ago don’t have the same level of experiences, and give them the tools they need to be successful,” Kingsbury said. “This will support that mission. I hope to gain the same — knowledge and tools that I can use to build and support our first-line supervisors.”

“First-line supervisors shape the day-to-day experience of our officers and have a direct influence on our department’s culture and performance. They carry a heavy responsibility, often without enough support,” said Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Chief Chris Bailey. “IMPD joined this study to better understand what they need to succeed and to find meaningful, lasting ways to strengthen frontline leadership.”

Research findings will be disseminated nationwide through the Consortium to Advance Supervision (CAPS), an effort led by Glenn College researchers with 65 law enforcement agencies to develop a promising array of tools, resources and guides for supervisors to test in their agencies and share with the field.

The study is supported by a grant of $536,002 from the Joyce Foundation. The Chicago-based, private, nonpartisan philanthropy invests in public policies and strategies in the Great Lakes region in the areas of culture, democracy, education and economic mobility, environment, gun violence prevention and justice reform, and journalism.

“At a time when trust and accountability in public safety are paramount, we are proud to support Robin Engel’s work advancing evidence-informed approaches that center on front-line supervision. Supervisors are often the linchpin in shaping officer behavior, culture and community trust, and this initiative reflects the kind of practical, research-driven strategies needed to build healthier and safer communities,” said Quintin Williams, senior program officer at the Joyce Foundation.

In addition to Engel, the team includes Jennifer Cherkauskas, research scientist; Russell Hassan, the Ambassador Milton A. and Roslyn Z. Wolf Chair in Public and International Affairs and an expert in community policing as well as leadership, organizational behavior and the human resource management of public sector organizations; retired police Chief Joseph Milek, who served at the Cincinnati and Boulder (Colorado) Police Departments and led police departments at Penn State University, Xavier University and Oklahoma State University, as well as the U.S. Air Force; and research consultant Jennifer Hall, a sergeant with the Louisville (Kentucky) Metro Police Department, where she directs the Performance and Implementation Unit, focusing on enhancing officer performance and implementing evidence-based strategies.