Document Type

Honors Thesis

Major

Sociology, Political Science

Advisor(s)

Karyn Sporer

Committee Members

Mark Brewer, Brian Pitman, Noel March, Asif Nawaz

Graduation Year

May 2021

Publication Date

Spring 5-2021

Abstract

There was a marked change in policing after the terror attacks on September 11, 2001. While much research has examined this change in other areas of the country, less is known about how 9/11 impacted policing in Maine. To fill this research gap, the present study examined police officers’ perceptions of job change since the 9/11 terrorist attack. Data from semi-structured interviews with ten police officers were analyzed using focused content coding. The data analysis revealed three general themes that represent how police officers thought that their jobs had changed: (1) national security, (2) local policing, and (3) fusion centers. This paper concludes with recommendations for police and policymakers on the future of local policing.

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