Police Culture and the Perpetuation of the Officer Shuffle: The Paradox of Life behind “The Blue Wall”

Abstract

A rich and well documented body of research continues to indicate U.S. citizens have long voiced concerns about The Blue Wall and the self-regulating nature of police work. Of little concern has been a phenomenon referred to as the officer shuffle, a practice by which discredited officers are allowed to remain in police work merely by moving from one department to another. The focus of this study is the paradox that defines The Blue Wall for those serving behind its walls. While much research exists regarding police work and law enforcement in general, to date no studies exist that examine the effects of the officer shuffle on those working beside the one who has moved from one department to another due to prior acts of misconduct. This ethnographic study, based in St. Louis and the ninety-one surrounding municipalities, examines just that. In so doing it draws from the work of legal scholars who have suggested mechanisms for ending the nationwide officer shuffle. But, the findings emanating from interviews with, and observations of, local police officers lead to additional suggestions for change in the existing laws that currently guide the hiring practices among those in law enforcement. The information and findings presented here derive from those most affected by the officer shuffle—those in law enforcement who find themselves working side-by-side with the gypsy cop who sustains and maintains the officer shuffle. While The Blue Wall promotes loyalty among officers, those who fear the presence of the gypsy cop express difficulty in honoring that long held tradition. Herein lies the paradox of The Blue Wall.