Logan J Somers
Biographic Data
| ID | 6607517 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Logan J Somers |
| GIVEN NAMES | Logan J |
| FAMILY NAME | Somers |
| SIGNATURE | SOMERS L J |
| AFFILIATIONS | Georgia Southern University |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-3899-0172 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 10 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 4 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 10 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2017 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
Assessing Police Recruit Disqualifiers
Current workforce shortages have led many police agencies to evaluate their hiring standards to increase the number of candidates they receive. Although getting more individuals into the profession is crucial, it should not come at the expense of losing trust and legitimacy from the public. With this in mind, the current study uses data from a national-level survey of citizens ( N = 1,340) to assess attitudes towards qualifications related to pri…
Through Thick and Thin
This study compared traditional (human-coded) qualitative analysis and (machine-coded) natural language processing (NLP) techniques on the same open-ended survey responses from police officers. Both strategies uncovered similar broad themes, but the traditional approach revealed more depth and nuance, including an additional category of themes. Therefore, NLP-basedapproaches cannot currently replace traditional qualitative analysis when depth and…
A tutorial on mixed methods research for policing scholars
This paper offers a tutorial on mixed methods research (MMR) for policing scholars to highlight its potential, encourage its use, and inform best practices, with the aim to enhance the reputation of the field with respect to methodological rigor. We review the design and reporting standards for MMR and include examples from published policing research to showcase quality applications and identify areas for improvement. In this emerging and often …
Police K-9 line-of-duty deaths and heatstroke 2000–2023
As with their human counterparts, police K-9s face dangers, including death, while in service. However, police K-9 research is significantly lacking, limiting possible preventive interventions. As such, we use data collected by the Officer Down Memorial Page from 2000–2023 on K-9 deaths (N = 407) to understand trends and correlates of these line-of-duty deaths, with an emphasis on heatstroke. Following gunfire, heatstroke is the second-leading ca…
Finding the path of least resistance
Research Summary This study investigated the impact of patrol officer communication tactics on suspect compliance by using Systematic Social Observation (SSO) to code 438 body‐worn camera and dashcam video recordings from two police agencies. Specifically, we examined officer tenor/demeanor, use of noncoercive directives, use of verbal coercion, and accusations, while controlling for a host of suspect and situational factors. Results showed that …
Applying Video-Based Systematic Social Observation to Police Use of Force Encounters
Although researchers have generated many studies related to police use of force, with an increasing focus on de-escalation, none have sought to systematically assess escalation, related factors, and the extent to which force usage may be considered appropriate from an objectively reasonable framework. Using video-based data (N = 540) from two agencies (Dallas and Smith County, TX) this study employs a Systematic Social Observation (SSO) methodolo…
Towards a better understanding of police experience
Using the survey data from 791 officers in a large western police department in the United States, the current study assesses how officers’ unique work experiences (i.e., shifts, crime areas, and duty assignments) vary and culminate throughout a career in policing. Findings provide a glimpse into the early socialization and work experiences of novice officers and how experiences manifest across officers as they gain years on the job. The results …
Going above and beyond
As a result of recent controversial police-citizen encounters, both practitioners and scholars have become increasingly interested in officer training. Despite prior research having identified various potential benefits of in-service training programs, little is known about factors that might impact the likelihood that an officer will participate in additional in-service training beyond what is mandated of them. Utilizing survey data from close t…
Confidence in Their Craft
The detailed study of officer experience has received relatively little attention within the policing literature despite it being integral to nearly every facet of their role. Drawing on survey data ( N = 691 officers), the current study examines how the unique work experiences of officers (i.e., shifts, crime areas, duty assignments, in-service trainings) are related to their perceptions of confidence (i.e., self-efficacy) in the ability to perf…
Examining police officer definitions of evidence-based policing
Evidence-based policing has become a commonly used term in academic circles to describe policing practices guided by research evidence demonstrating their effectiveness. Little is known, however, about how police practitioners understand and define the term and the extent to which these definitions align with researcher conceptions of the term. We examine data from a survey on receptivity to research administered to 1355 police officers, supervis…
Finding the path of least resistance
Research Summary This study investigated the impact of patrol officer communication tactics on suspect compliance by using Systematic Social Observation (SSO) to code 438 body‐worn camera and dashcam video recordings from two police agencies. Specifically, we examined officer tenor/demeanor, use of noncoercive directives, use of verbal coercion, and accusations, while controlling for a host of suspect and situational factors. Results showed that …
Examining police officer definitions of evidence-based policing
Evidence-based policing has become a commonly used term in academic circles to describe policing practices guided by research evidence demonstrating their effectiveness. Little is known, however, about how police practitioners understand and define the term and the extent to which these definitions align with researcher conceptions of the term. We examine data from a survey on receptivity to research administered to 1355 police officers, supervis…
Examining police officer definitions of evidence-based policing
Evidence-based policing has become a commonly used term in academic circles to describe policing practices guided by research evidence demonstrating their effectiveness. Little is known, however, about how police practitioners understand and define the term and the extent to which these definitions align with researcher conceptions of the term. We examine data from a survey on receptivity to research administered to 1355 police officers, supervis…
Confidence in Their Craft
The detailed study of officer experience has received relatively little attention within the policing literature despite it being integral to nearly every facet of their role. Drawing on survey data ( N = 691 officers), the current study examines how the unique work experiences of officers (i.e., shifts, crime areas, duty assignments, in-service trainings) are related to their perceptions of confidence (i.e., self-efficacy) in the ability to perf…
Applying Video-Based Systematic Social Observation to Police Use of Force Encounters
Although researchers have generated many studies related to police use of force, with an increasing focus on de-escalation, none have sought to systematically assess escalation, related factors, and the extent to which force usage may be considered appropriate from an objectively reasonable framework. Using video-based data (N = 540) from two agencies (Dallas and Smith County, TX) this study employs a Systematic Social Observation (SSO) methodolo…
Towards a better understanding of police experience
Using the survey data from 791 officers in a large western police department in the United States, the current study assesses how officers’ unique work experiences (i.e., shifts, crime areas, and duty assignments) vary and culminate throughout a career in policing. Findings provide a glimpse into the early socialization and work experiences of novice officers and how experiences manifest across officers as they gain years on the job. The results …
Going above and beyond
As a result of recent controversial police-citizen encounters, both practitioners and scholars have become increasingly interested in officer training. Despite prior research having identified various potential benefits of in-service training programs, little is known about factors that might impact the likelihood that an officer will participate in additional in-service training beyond what is mandated of them. Utilizing survey data from close t…
Finding the path of least resistance
Research Summary This study investigated the impact of patrol officer communication tactics on suspect compliance by using Systematic Social Observation (SSO) to code 438 body‐worn camera and dashcam video recordings from two police agencies. Specifically, we examined officer tenor/demeanor, use of noncoercive directives, use of verbal coercion, and accusations, while controlling for a host of suspect and situational factors. Results showed that …
A tutorial on mixed methods research for policing scholars
This paper offers a tutorial on mixed methods research (MMR) for policing scholars to highlight its potential, encourage its use, and inform best practices, with the aim to enhance the reputation of the field with respect to methodological rigor. We review the design and reporting standards for MMR and include examples from published policing research to showcase quality applications and identify areas for improvement. In this emerging and often …
Police K-9 line-of-duty deaths and heatstroke 2000–2023
As with their human counterparts, police K-9s face dangers, including death, while in service. However, police K-9 research is significantly lacking, limiting possible preventive interventions. As such, we use data collected by the Officer Down Memorial Page from 2000–2023 on K-9 deaths (N = 407) to understand trends and correlates of these line-of-duty deaths, with an emphasis on heatstroke. Following gunfire, heatstroke is the second-leading ca…
Assessing Police Recruit Disqualifiers
Current workforce shortages have led many police agencies to evaluate their hiring standards to increase the number of candidates they receive. Although getting more individuals into the profession is crucial, it should not come at the expense of losing trust and legitimacy from the public. With this in mind, the current study uses data from a national-level survey of citizens ( N = 1,340) to assess attitudes towards qualifications related to pri…
Through Thick and Thin
This study compared traditional (human-coded) qualitative analysis and (machine-coded) natural language processing (NLP) techniques on the same open-ended survey responses from police officers. Both strategies uncovered similar broad themes, but the traditional approach revealed more depth and nuance, including an additional category of themes. Therefore, NLP-basedapproaches cannot currently replace traditional qualitative analysis when depth and…
Crime Patterns and Interventions (8 works) · Policing Practices and Perceptions (8 works) · Political science (7 works) · Psychology (7 works) · Law (6 works) · Officer (5 works) · Social Psychology (5 works) · Applied Psychology (3 works) · Business (3 works) · Criminal Justice and Corrections Analysis (3 works)