Developing successful academic police partnerships: through the lens of researchers and law enforcement

This panel explored caveats and challenges academic researchers and police personnel navigate when developing effective, impactful, mutually beneficial, and sustainable research. Law enforcement is increasingly engaging in collaborative research and knowledge generation to enhance evidence-based policing. Academic programs and research hubs benefit from access to law enforcement related data. The literature has many examples of successful research collaborations. However, there can be challenges to developing these partnerships, for example: identifying shared research priorities; working with both the academic and police organizational processes necessary for accessing data; aligning goals and communication expectations; and collaborating on knowledge mobilization that accurately translates research findings into applied practice, uses optimal methods for knowledge dissemination, and includes the co-production of materials and reports. This panel discussion included psychology researchers and police personnel with diverse experience and perspectives. The goal of this panel was to help prepare those interested in pursuing such collaborations and is relevant to students, early career researchers and established researchers. This critical discussion was facilitated by the moderator via key questions posed to panel members with a well-grounded familiarity with establishing partnerships.