Date of Award

5-2026

Degree Type

Capstone

Degree Name

Master of Public Administration (MPA)

Department

Political Science and Public Administration

Abstract

Public trust is a key component of effective law enforcement. While historically cyclical, trust in American law enforcement agencies has trended downward in recent years following several high-profile use of force incidents. In response, many agencies have begun incorporating new theories and models into their policies and procedures aimed at increasing public trust. This capstone paper draws upon the relevant literature surrounding these theories and conducts a qualitative case study of the Northville Township Police Department. This agency consistently achieved above-average levels of confidence from its community members by incorporating these theories using a hybrid-synthesis policy implementation approach. This paper contributes to the literature by providing a guide for police agencies to achieve similar outcomes, while also identifying several potential areas for future research.

Download

Share

COinS