Manvi Tripathi

The Impact of Police Presence On Safety and Employee Retention at Local Businesses

Started Jan. 5, 2023

Abstract or project description

Police presence in economically disparaged neighborhoods has the potential to have a detrimental impact on the lives of people who own small businesses. As police brutality increases in visibility on social media, Americans nationwide have become more cognizant of the negative connotations associated with the presence of police officers in a community. This growing fear has inadvertently impacted small businesses in communities where police presence is more significant than usual. This research paper investigates how police presence affects attitudes regarding safety in  small, local businesses in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods. As the survey conducted for this study yielded only five respondents, which resulted in a non-representative sample with mixed responses, no definitive conclusions can be drawn. The information found in this research paper was obtained through publicly accessible information, first-hand accounts from local business owners and employees. However, other research has found that police presence can influence  hostile environments, which discourage customers from visiting small businesses, impact the employees that work at these businesses, and deter residents from adjacent communities from interacting with businesses. The research found that police presence can lead to a hostile environment discouraging customers from visiting small businesses, impact the employees that work at these businesses, and deter residents from adjacent communities from interacting with businesses. However, the introduction of different techniques such as community policing and feedback from local residents and businesses can help reverse potential damage caused by miscommunication and disruptive policing in these areas (U.S Department of Justice , 2012). This research paper can inform policymakers and business owners on the issues that should be addressed to ameliorate the economic downturn in these communities.