An Analysis of How Police Chief Pamela A. Smith Addresses Resilience Policing
Keywords:
leadership, accountability, ethics, DC, District of Columbia, emergency management, emergency management policing, resilience, resilience policingAbstract
This resilience policing research illustrates the need for police leaders and departments to more directly address resilience policing elements. This analysis examines how Pamela A. Smith, the current Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), addresses resilience policing in Washington, DC. Our study uses document analysis to review content and themes related to resilience policing. We hypothesize that resilience policing will not be directly referenced but that resilience policing elements will be addressed. Through content and thematic analysis, we accepted our hypothesis. We also provide recommendations and policy implications to enhance resilience policing.
References
ARUP. (2024). City Resilience Framework 2024 Edition: Preparing for the next decade. Resilient Cities Network [Book]. Arup. Retrieved from https://resilientcitiesnetwork.org/downloadable_resources/Publications/City%20Resilience%20Framework%2024%20FINAL_.pdf
Ayazma, T. (2019). Examining the impact of community policing on public attitudes toward fear of terrorism, resilience, and satisfaction with police in the face of new terrorism [PhD Dissertation, University of North Texas]. In University of North Texas. Retrieved from https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1609077/m2/1/high_res_d/AYAZMA-DISSERTATION-2019.pdf
Bagby, C. (2022). Beyond reform: Better policing through systems thinking [Master’s Thesis, Naval Postgraduate School]. Homeland Security Digital Library. Retrieved from https://www.hsdl.org/c/abstract/?docid=854116
Basham, S.L. (2020). Campus law enforcement: The relationship between emergency preparedness and community policing. Policing, 43(5), 741–753. https://doi.org/10.1108/pijpsm-01-2020-0010
Bengtsson, M. (2016). How to plan and perform a qualitative study using content analysis. Nursing Plus Open, 2, 8–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.npls.2016.01.001
Blaustein, J., Miccelli, M., Hendy, R., & Burns, K.H. (2023). Resilience policing and disaster management during Australia’s Black Summer bushfire crisis. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2023.103848
Bowen, G.A. (2009). Document analysis as a qualitative research method. Qualitative Research Journal, 9(2), 27–40. https://doi.org/10.3316/qrj0902027
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (n.d.). CALEA Client Database. Retrieved from https://www.calea.org/calea-client-database
Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (2023). 2023 Annual Report. Retrieved from https://calea.org/annual-reports/2023-annual-report/
Council of the District of Columbia. (n.d.). Hearings. Retrieved from https://dccouncil.gov/hearings/
Council of the District of Columbia. (2023, September 27). On the nomination of Pamela A. Smith to the position of Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department. In Granicus. On The Nomination of Pamela A. Smith to the Position of Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department, Washington, DC, United States of America. Retrieved from https://dc.granicus.com/TranscriptViewer.php?view_id=28&clip_id=8447
Council of the District of Columbia. (2024a, February 13). Fiscal Year 2023 Performance Oversight hearing. In Granicus. Fiscal Year 2023 Performance Oversight Hearing, Washington, DC, United States of America. Retrieved from https://dc.granicus.com/TranscriptViewer.php?view_id=28&clip_id=8689
Council of the District of Columbia. (2024b, April 9). Budget Oversight Hearing. In Granicus. Budget Oversight Hearing, Washington, DC, United States of America. Retrieved from https://dc.granicus.com/TranscriptViewer.php?view_id=28&clip_id=8810
DC Police Leadership Academy. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://dcpla.mpdc.dc.gov/
Farrar, J.J. (2017). Resilient leadership. International Journal of Emergency Services, 6(3), 238–246. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijes-07-2017-0040
Farrell, J.L. (2012). Community engagement for collective resilience: the rising system [Master’s Thesis, Naval Postgraduate School]. Naval Postgraduate School. Retrieved from https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA567328.pdf
Hendy, R., Miccelli, M., Blaustein, J., & Burns, K.H. (2024). Police sergeants and disaster management during Australia’s Black Summer bushfire crisis. Policing & Society, pp. 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/10439463.2024.2405747
Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency. (n.d.). Who we are. Retrieved from https://hsema.dc.gov/page/who-we-are
Ikerd, T.E. (2010). Putting POP to the pavement: Captains in the Charlotte–Mecklenburg Police Department share their experiences. Police Practice and Research, 11(6), 491–504. https://doi.org/10.1080/15614263.2010.497354
Interpol Innovation Centre. (2022). Background Paper: Crime, Law Enforcement and Climate Change. INTERPOL [Report]. Retrieved from https://www.interpol.int/content/download/18519/file/IC%20Background%20Paper%20-%20Crime%20Law%20Enforcement%20and%20Climate%20Change.pdf
Jackson, B.A. (2015). Respect and Legitimacy—A Two-Way Street: Strengthening trust between police and the public in an era of increasing transparency. RAND Corporation. Retrieved from https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/perspectives/PE100/PE154/RAND_PE154.pdf
Luong, H.T., Le, T.Q., Van Nguyen, T., & Luong, V.K. (2024). Community-based policing of natural disasters in Vietnam: Analysing the ‘four-on-the-spot’ model. Policing and Society, pp. 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/10439463.2024.2319819
MAXQDA. (n.d.). Advanced qualitative & mixed methods research for Windows and Mac. Retrieved from https://www.maxqda.com/products/maxqda
Metropolitan Police Department. (n.d.-a). Newsroom. Retrieved from https://mpdc.dc.gov/newsroom?field_date_value%5Bmin%5D%5Bdate%5D=&field_date_value%5Bmax%5D%5Bdate%5D=&keys=&field_release_type_tid=11&sort_by=field_date_value&sort_order=DESC
Metropolitan Police Department. (n.d.-b). Pamela A. Smith. Retrieved from https://mpdc.dc.gov/node/1596251
Metropolitan Police Department. (2023, November 7). Statement from Mayor Bowser on confirmation of Chief Pamela A. Smith. Retrieved from https://mpdc.dc.gov/release/statement-mayor-bowser-confirmation-chief-pamela-smith
Mutongwizo, T., Holley, C., Shearing, C., & Simpson, N. (2019). Resilience Policing: An emerging response to shifting harm landscapes and reshaping community policing. Policing, 15(1), 606–621. https://doi.org/10.1093/police/paz033
National Park Service. (2021, February 25). Pamela A. Smith, Chief of United States Park Police. Retrieved from https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/pamela-a-smith-chief-of-united-state-park-police.htm
Nguyen, C.-T.J. (2020). Hurricane Harvey: A study of police leadership and resilience [Thesis]. University of Houston.
Nowell, L.S., Norris, J.M., White, D.E., & Moules, N.J. (2017). Thematic analysis: Striving to meet the trustworthiness criteria. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406917733847
Office of the District of Columbia Auditor. (2024, March 4). What we know about crime: Holes in the “ecosystem.” Auditude: Straight talk from the D.C. Auditor. Retrieved from https://dcauditor.org/auditude/what-we-know-about-crime/
Patterson, K. (2023). Written Testimony of The Hon. Kathy Patterson, D.C. Auditor Prepared for the Council of the District of Columbia Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety Public Roundtable on the Nomination of Pamela A. Smith to the Position of Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department. Office of the District of Columbia Auditor. Retrieved from https://dcauditor.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ODCA.Testimony.Smith_.Nomination.MPD_.9.27.23.Web_.pdf
Patterson, K., Friedman, B., McGough, M., & Malm, A. (2024). New national assessment gives MPD high marks. In Office of the District of Columbia Auditor. Retrieved from https://dcauditor.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/MPD.SAJE_.Assessment.6.26.24.pdf
PFM Group Consulting, LLC, Patterson, K., & Magnus, C. (2024). MPD needs improved data analysis, targeted deployment, and more detectives. Office of the District of Columbia Auditor. Retrieved from https://dcauditor.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/MPD.Staffing.Report.MPD_.9.12.14.pdf
Police Executive Research Forum & U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance. (2014). Legitimacy and Procedural Justice: A new element of police leadership (C. Fischer, Ed.). Retrieved from https://www.policeforum.org/assets/docs/Free_Online_Documents/Leadership/legitimacy%20and%20procedural%20justice%20-%20a%20new%20element%20of%20police%20leadership.pdf
Policing Project. (n.d.). SAJE Policing Assessment: Defining and measuring sound, accountable, just, and effective policing. The Policing Project NYU School of Law. Retrieved from https://www.policingproject.org/saje-policing-assessment
Reist, E., Anyu, J.N., Anglim, C., & Ivanov, S. (2025). An examination of resilience policing in the District of Columbia [PhD dissertation]. University of the District of Columbia.
Resilient Cities Network. (2024, November). Publication City Resilience Framework – 2024 Edition - Cities continue to grow and evolve, and as they do, they face an increasing list of risks and threats. Retrieved from https://resilientcitiesnetwork.org/city-resilience-framework-2024-edition/
Smith, P. (2023a). On the nomination of Pamela A. Smith to the position of Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department. Metropolitan Police Department. Retrieved from https://mpdc.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/mpdc/release_content/attachments/Testimony_Acting%20COP%20Smith%20Confirmation_09%2027%2023_FINAL.pdf
Smith, P. (2023b). Addressing Crime Trends (ACT) Now Amendment Act of 2023 (B25-555). Retrieved from https://mpdc.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/mpdc/release_content/attachments/Testimony_Chief%20Smith_ACT%20Now_11%2029%2023_FINAL_With_Placard_and%20Charts.pdf
Smith, P. (2024a). Fiscal Year 2023 performance oversight hearing testimony. Metropolitan Police Department. Retrieved from https://mpdc.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/mpdc/release_content/attachments/Chief%20Smith%20Testimony_MPD%20Perf%20Hearing_02%2013%2024_FINAL.pdf
Smith, P. (2024b). Budget oversight hearing on the Metropolitan Police Department. Metropolitan Police Department. Retrieved from https://mpdc.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/mpdc/release_content/attachments/TESTIMONY_MPD%20FY25%20Budget%20Hearing_Chief%20Smith_FINAL.pdf
Stemler, S. (2001). An overview of content analysis. Practical Assessment, Research, & Evaluation, 7(17), 1–6.
Thornley, L., Ball, J., Signal, L., Aho, K.L., & Rawson, E. (2014). Building community resilience: Learning from the Canterbury earthquakes. Kōtuitui New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences Online, 10(1), 23–35. https://doi.org/10.1080/1177083x.2014.934846
Tranfield, D., & Starkey, K. (1998). The Nature, Social Organization and Promotion of Management Research: Towards Policy. British Journal of Management, 9, 341–353. Retrieved from https://research-ebsco-com.udc.idm.oclc.org/c/3qtkhf/viewer/pdf/lmyaouqcnb?route=details
United States Census Bureau. (n.d.). District of Columbia. Retrieved from https://data.census.gov/profile/District_of_Columbia?g=040XX00US11
United States Department of Justice. (2014). Community policing defined. Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. Retrieved from https://portal.cops.usdoj.gov/resourcecenter/RIC/Publications/cops-p157-pub.pdf#:~:text=Community%20policing%20is%20a%20philosophy%20that%20promotes%20organizational,as%20crime%2C%20social%20disorder%2C%20and%20fear%20of%20crime.
United States Government Accountability Office. (2019). Disaster Resilience Framework: Principles for analyzing federal efforts to facilitate and promote resilience to natural disasters. (GAO-20-100SP). https://doi.org/10.7930/nca4.2018
Valero, J.N., Jung, K., & Andrew, S.A. (2015). Does transformational leadership build resilient public and nonprofit organizations? Disaster Prevention and Management, 24(1), 4–20. https://doi.org/10.1108/dpm-04-2014-0060