“I Don’t Think I Have,But I’ve Heard.”: Examining Perceptions of Race Relations in the Los Angeles Police Department Among Male Mexican-American Police Officers

Abstract

Male Mexican-American police officers in the LAPD were interviewed about their perception of race relations in the department. The data shows that while officers are aware of the existence of racial tensions, they do not believe or are unsure about if they have experienced racism or discrimination in the department. Respondents do describe hearing claims of racism and discrimination, mostly by African-American officers. It is argued this is due to officers being unversed in how modern forms of racism and discrimination are manifested, as well as respondents comparing their experiences to African-American officers and in the process reifying their version of the Black/White racial binary in the institution, more accurately manifesting as a Non-Black/Black binary.

Keywords

race and policing Latino/Hispanic Americans race/ethnicity critical race theory criminological theories Latin Americans

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