Multiculturalism in the law enforcement officers view: effects and challenges

Shirley Pascual Ayeo-eo

doi:10.31893/multiscience.2025301

Keywords:

multiculturalism

law enforcement

culture diversity

law enforcement officers

Abstract

The study investigated the impact of multiculturalism on law enforcement in the Luzon Region of the Philippines, focusing on its effects, challenges, and the actions taken to address these challenges. Using a qualitative case study approach, 20 law enforcers were purposefully selected as participants. Data were collected through a homemade interview guide specifically designed to delve into experiences and perspectives related to multiculturalism in law enforcement. The gathered data were then systematically collated, analyzed, and interpreted. Findings revealed that multiculturalism has a complex impact on law enforcement, producing positive, negative, and neutral effects. On the positive side, exposure to diverse cultures enhanced the cultural awareness and adaptability of some officers, fostering a more inclusive approach to policing. However, multiculturalism also posed significant challenges, particularly in terms of cultural differences, cultural dominance, and cultural erosion. Cultural differences sometimes led to misunderstandings and miscommunication, while cultural dominance created friction when one culture was perceived to overshadow or undermine others. Cultural erosion presented an additional concern, as officers struggled to maintain traditional practices in a diverse environment. In response to these issues, law enforcers employed various strategies to foster a more harmonious and effective working environment. These included promoting cultural recognition, which involved understanding and valuing the cultural backgrounds of the communities they served. Emphasizing adherence to the rule of law provided a fair and neutral framework for addressing conflicts. Additionally, implementing cultural education helped officers gain a deeper understanding of the diverse groups they interacted with, enabling them to perform their duties more effectively. Ultimately, the study concluded that while multiculturalism brings both benefits and challenges, proactive measures such as these can mitigate its negative effects, enhancing the effectiveness and inclusivity of law enforcement in a multicultural setting.
References
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35. Wong, A., & Liu, Y. (2019). Empathy and cultural sensitivity in policing. Oxford University Press.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

How to cite

Ayeo-eo, S. P. (2024). Multiculturalism in the law enforcement officers view: effects and challenges. Multidisciplinary Science Journal, 7(6), 2025301. https://doi.org/10.31893/multiscience.2025301

[1] Alpert, G. P., MacDonald, J. M., & Dunham, R. G. (2020). Policing in the 21st century: Community policing. Annual Review of Criminology, 3(1), 119–138.

[2] Bartol, C. R., & Bartol, A. M. (2020). Introduction to forensic psychology: Research and application (6th ed.). Sage Publications.

[3] Brown, S., & Clark, C. (2022). Cultural competence in law enforcement: Training and education (3rd ed.). Routledge.

[4] Can, S. H., & Hendy, H. M. (2019). The impact of cultural competency training on law enforcement officers. Policing: An International Journal, 42(1), 64–78.

[5] Chongatera, G. (2013). Policing a multicultural community: A study of the relationships between a police service and an ethnically diverse community. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, 28(2), 125–136.

[6] Clark, D., & Lee, M. (2020). Multicultural training in law enforcement: Bridging gaps in diverse communities. Springer.

[7] Davies, S., & Roberts, J. (2021). The rule of law in multicultural societies: Challenges and strategies. Routledge.

[8] Dutton, R., & Simmonds, R. (2020). Navigating cultural diversity in professional settings. Springer.

[9] Garcia, M. (2021). Law enforcement in a multicultural society: The case of Luzon, Philippines. Philippine Journal of Criminology, 10(2), 85–99.

[10] Glazer, N., & Moynihan, D. P. (1970). Beyond the melting pot: The Negroes, Puerto Ricans, Jews, Italians, and Irish of New York City. MIT Press.

[11] Gordon, M. M. (1964). Assimilation in American life: The role of race, religion, and national origins. Oxford University Press.

[12] Haarr, R. N. (2019). The impact of cultural competency training on law enforcement officers. Policing: An International Journal, 42(1), 64–78.

[13] Harris, J., & Hargrove, B. (2021). Effective multicultural interactions: Adaptation and understanding. Palgrave Macmillan.

[14] Johnson, T., & Williams, H. (2022). Organizational coherence in law enforcement: Achieving common goals through unity. Palgrave Macmillan.

[15] Kappeler, V. E., & Gaines, L. K. (2021). Community policing: A critical analysis (2nd ed.). Waveland Press.

[16] Lee, J., & Taylor, M. (2021). Building trust and rapport in multicultural communities. Palgrave Macmillan.

[17] Linton, R. (2021). The study of culture: An introduction (4th ed.). Columbia University Press.

[18] Longley, R. (2021). What is multiculturalism? Definition, theories, and examples. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-multiculturalism-4689285.

[19] Martinez, A. (2021). Public forums and community dialogue in multicultural conflict resolution. Oxford University Press.

[20] Martinez, A., & Smith, J. (2023). Cultural dialogues and community relations in policing. Oxford University Press.

[21] Merry, S. E. (2020). The cultural politics of emotion (2nd ed.). Routledge.

[22] Morin, R., Parker, K., Stepler, R., & Mercer, A. (2019). Trust and confidence in the police: Key findings from surveys across the world. Pew Research Center. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328381070_The_Overlooked_Perspective_of_Police_Trust_in_the_Public_Measurement_and_Effects_on_Police_Job_Behaviors.

[23] Nelson Mandela. (n.d.). AZQuotes.com. Retrieved from https://www.azquotes.com/quote/1228657.

[24] Nguyen, T. (2020). Observation and adaptation in cultural competence. Emerald Publishing.

[25] Park, H., & Kim, S. (2020). Observational learning and intercultural communication in law enforcement. Springer.

[26] Reeves, R. V., & Meyer, E. (2020). Cultural competence in community policing. Journal of Law Enforcement, 9(3), 110–125.

[27] Siegel, L. J., & Worrall, J. L. (2020). Introduction to criminal justice (16th ed.). Cengage Learning.

[28] Smith, B. W., & Holmes, M. D. (2019). Police stress: Empirical evidence and implications. Crime & Delinquency, 65(8), 1041–1062.

[29] Taylor, J., & McAllister, M. (2019). The rule of law in diverse societies. Cambridge University Press.

[30] Torres, A. (2020). Cultural sensitivity training in the Philippine National Police. Asian Journal of Public Administration, 12(3), 112–130.

[31] Tyler, T. R., & Huo, Y. J. (2020). Trust in the law: Encouraging public cooperation with the police and courts. Russell Sage Foundation.

[32] Van Craen, M., & Skogan, W. G. (2019). Achieving fairness in policing: The link between internal and external procedural justice. Police Quarterly, 22(1), 3–30.

[33] Wang, Y., & Liu, X. (2019). Respect and cultural sensitivity in law enforcement. Cambridge University Press.

[34] Wilson, J. M., Wilson, S. R., & Swanson, C. R. (2021). The impact of diversity on police performance. Policing: An International Journal, 44(3), 523–537.

[35] Wong, A., & Liu, Y. (2019). Empathy and cultural sensitivity in policing. Oxford University Press.

Abstract

References

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