Understanding Officer’s Motivations to Not Complete Traffic Stop Forms: Preliminary Results from the Columbus Division of Police
Abstract:
Recent research on racial disparities in policing has increasingly focused on traffic stops and their outcomes, relying heavily on administrative data collected by municipal and state police departments. These departments require officers to submit traffic stop data using standardized forms to monitor enforcement practices and identify any potential racial biases. This presentation assesses the Columbus Division of Police’s traffic stop data collection process and the validity of the recorded data, paying special attention to officers' adherence to reporting requirements.
We utilize a mixed-methods research design, combining a thorough analysis of administrative traffic stop data with qualitative insights drawn from both group and one-on-one interviews (N=20) with patrol officers. The interviews investigate officers' motivations for complying—or not complying—with the traffic stop data collection procedures. By integrating these data sources, this study provides a comprehensive evaluation of how traffic stop data is generated, the degree of compliance, and the implications for accurately monitoring race-based disparities in traffic enforcement.
Russell S. Hassan currently serves as Professor and Wolf Chair in Public Affairs at Ohio State University's (OSU) John Glenn College of Public Affairs. He earned his Ph.D. in 2010 from the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy at the University at Albany (SUNY). His research bridges the fields of Public Management, Organizational Behavior, and Policing. He has done extensive research on how organizational environment and management practices influence the work attitudes and behaviors of public sector employees, particularly those who work in law enforcement. He currently is leading a community-engaged research project focused on transformational change in a municipal police department in Ohio. Russell is affiliated with OSU's Criminal Justice Research Center and the Michigan State University Police Staffing Research Observatory. He is also connected to the University of North Carolina's Local Government Workplace Research Initiative and Arizona State University's Center for Organization Research and Design. From 2021 to 2023, he was a visiting professor at Aarhus University in Denmark.
His research has been widely published in academic journals, including the British Journal of Criminology, International Public Management Journal, Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, Journal of Business Ethics, Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Journal of Managerial Psychology, Journal of Leadership and Organization Studies, Policing, Public Administration Review, and Public Management Review. Russell is a co-editor of the International Public Management Journal and previously served as the 2019-2020 Division Chair of the Public and Nonprofit Division of the Academy of Management. He also served as the Communications Secretary for the International Research Society for Public Management from 2014 to 2020.
Pizza, salad, and soft drinks will be served. We hope to see you on Sept. 20th, please RSVP to Chris Yanai at yanai.7@osu.edu to assist with planning.
