Stress and Unnecessary Use of Force among African American Female Law Enforcement

Excessive use of force undermines a law enforcement agency's ability to establish trust, build sustainable relationships, and form cohesive partnerships toward fighting crime. This study addressed the impact of stress on African American female police officers resulting in their use of excessive force. The quantitative research methodology utilized a sampling of 50 African American female police officers patrolling in the southeastern United States. Data were collected through the Police Survey of Job Related Stress, administered through the SurveyMonkey website. McGregor's X and Y theory provided the theoretical foundation for this study. An analysis of variance revealed no statistically significant difference involving the impacts of organizational events on the use of excessive force as a factor of age, rank, and years of experience for African American female police officers. The findings of this study indicate a need for police administrators to address organizational stressors in areas of decision making, departmental support, and job conflicts contributing to stress and excessive use of force. The implications for positive change includes enhanced knowledge for police administrators in addressing sources of stress and anxiety contributing to the use of excessive force; this knowledge will benefit police officers, increase public safety, and enhance the communities in which they serve.