Date of Award

5-2026

Degree Type

Capstone

Degree Name

Master of Public Administration (MPA)

Department

Political Science and Public Administration

Abstract

Among the many desired outcomes for uniformed police officers who undergo implicit bias training is a reduction in the level of discriminatory conduct related to such biases. Current research on the subject offers mixed results, and nearly all existing studies do not provide an empirical measurement of efficacy or other outcomes beyond officer sentiment. This case study examines and measures the impact of implicit bias trainings, which is a requirement for officers within the Hazel Park Police Department in Michigan, prior and subsequent to certification by using raw and sustained complaints of discriminatory conduct allegedly perpetrated by Hazel Park police officers against protected classes articulated in Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act. It also analyzes complaint-level data to determine which protected classes allegations of discrimination most frequently apply to. The findings related to the implicit bias training’s efficacy do not provide a dispositive conclusion given the limitations of the data set, demonstrating a continued need for further research and measurement. Analysis of complaint-level data demonstrates that the most frequent allegations of discrimination articulated in formal complaints are based on race, and to a lesser extent, gender.

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