Les variations spatiales du comportement policier: l'exemple de la Sûreté du Québec
In order to explain spatial variations in crime, some theories were proposed, such as social disorganisation (Shaw & McKay, 1969) and rational choice (Clarke & Cornish, 1985), taking into account the possible influence of the environment. It also appears that the reaction to crime, personified par the police, vary into space. The first ecological theory of police behavior is the one from Klinger (1997), where police vigor is inversely proportional to police workload, deviance and social disorganisation. Results from later studies are more or less consistent with the theory. The objective of this study is to make a spatial analysis of police behavior of the Sûreté du Québec. The results suggest that police vigor is positively associated with police workload and some variables of social disorganisation. Associations with deviance are varied. These results contrast with Klinger’s theory. In his theory, Klinger considers the overall environment of the police officer. However, the officer bases his decisions in regard of his immediate surroundings, for example the suspect or the victim. An ecological theory of police behavior should take into account not only the overall environment of the officer, but also its immediate surroundings.
Police Rural Police behavior Police Environment Ecology Vigor Rural policing