Content area

Abstract

Amid intensifying public debates over “wokeism,” Canadian police agencies are under mounting pressure to demonstrate progress on equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). Yet, little is known about how frontline officers experience EDI training. Guided by Critical Race Theory and intersectionality, this narrative inquiry explores the perceptions of ten officers from diverse agencies across Canada. Semi-structured interviews reveal five interlocking themes: conceptual ambiguity surrounding EDI; the moderating effect of officers’ social identities; tension between diversity representation and merit narratives; dissatisfaction with training content and modalities; and organizational resistance manifesting as performative “checkbox” compliance. Findings suggest that current training, while symbolically important, struggles to penetrate policing’s hierarchical culture without sustained leadership commitment, accountability mechanisms, and identity-safe learning environments. The study offers a multi-level framework for embedding EDI more substantively and proposes evaluative strategies that privilege community feedback and longitudinal culture metrics. These insights contribute to scholarship on transformative police reform and provide actionable guidance for agencies seeking to move beyond awareness toward structural change.

Details

1010268
Title
Bridging the Gap: Examining Canadian Police Officer Perceptions of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Training
Number of pages
281
Publication year
2025
Degree date
2025
School code
0115
Source
DAI-A 87/5(E), Dissertation Abstracts International
ISBN
9798265432810
Advisor
Committee member
Walton, Gerald; Jones, Danardo; Smith, Patriann; Parker, Lana
University/institution
University of Windsor (Canada)
Department
EDUCATIONAL STUDIES (PhD)
University location
Canada -- Ontario, CA
Degree
Ph.D.
Source type
Dissertation or Thesis
Language
English
Document type
Dissertation/Thesis
Dissertation/thesis number
32284267
ProQuest document ID
3275057984
Document URL
https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/bridging-gap-examining-canadian-police-officer/docview/3275057984/se-2?accountid=208611
Copyright
Database copyright ProQuest LLC; ProQuest does not claim copyright in the individual underlying works.
Database
ProQuest One Academic