Research Interests

The use of police tactical units and concerns regarding police militarization

Police tactical units (e.g., SWAT) are often considered the embodiment of police militarization and are viewed by many as an inherently aggressive policing strategy that has become incorporated into everyday policing. Despite these assertions, there has been limited research examining the use of tactical units in Canada. Generally, this line of research seeks to develop a more informed understanding of the situations that tactical officers are responding to, the reasons for their response, and the consequences of the use of tactical resources. 

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De-escalation

The use of de-escalation by the police has been increasingly called for by the public, advocacy groups, and various government bodies which has resulted in changes to legislation, police training, and organizational policy. De-escalation, however, is rarely defined and the definitions that have been developed are often ambiguous. This research which is lead by Tori Semple seeks to provide clarity when conceptualizing de-escalation as well as examine the extent that de-escalation behaviours can be reliably measured. 

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Police Training for Critical Incidents

Despite the potential consequences during police-public interactions, generally, police services have limited resources allocated to training. In order to maximize officer and public safety, this line of research seeks to maximize the extent to which operational skills are learned, transferred to the field, and retained by officers. 

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