Other Research Projects

Kenneth’s research focuses on a wide variety of mental health issues affecting police. He conducted a study on officer perception of employee assistance programs (EAP) using a convenience sample of NYPD officers and found that officer perception of organizational support moderates officer willingness to recommend the EAP, but it does not moderate officer willingness to use the EAP. The existence of stigma surrounding mental health is well-noted in the literature, and this study makes a valuable contribution by highlighting the fact that influencing peers to recommend the program is a more reliable pathway to mental health support than encouraging personal use. The results of this study were published in the article “Helping the Helpers: The Role of Organizational Support and Peer Influence on Police Officer Receptivity to Employee Assistance Programs” in Policing: An International Journal (click here for the journal article or here for free access to a post-production print). 

Kenneth is also actively working on several other research projects with John Jay faculty and fellow doctoral students that involve other related aspects of policing. He is the lead researcher on a project that investigates police officer commitment, which he is working on with Dr. Kevin Wolff. Using a convenience sample of 2,000 NYPD officers, this study will build upon contemporary literature that suggests police are voluntarily leaving the profession at an alarming rate with the goal of identifying specific factors that increase or decrease officer commitment. This research will evaluate levels of officer commitment and explore its relationship with other specific factors, such as organizational support, media coverage, social perceptions, and pay.

Another research project Kenneth is conducting with Dr. Kevin Wolff involves evaluating the perception of both police and non-police of protestor tactics in terms of peacefulness and lawfulness. The goal of this study is to provide practical guidance to policy makers regarding police use of force during social protests and times of civil unrest. This project received local grant funding through the City University of New York.

Kenneth is also working with Dr. Sung Suk Violet Yu to examine citizen demand for police service in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the murder of George Floyd. This project is expected to provide guidance to policy makers and academics regarding the role of police in society in response to changes in routine activities.