Behind the blue line: An ethnographic study of police culture in rural Kansas law enforcement

Abstract

This thesis reports the results of a qualitative study using an ethnographic approach. The study examined rural law enforcement culture in one rural Kansas law enforcement agency. In-depth interviews and non-participant observations (ride-alongs) were conducted to construct and interpret the culture of rural law enforcement through the lens of officers working in one rural law enforcement agency. The study describes the complexities rural law enforcement officers face at this research site, including enforcing the law, the nature of crime, community interactions, and how outside pressures from the community, the governing authority, and increased concern for citizen's safety affect these rural law enforcement officers' daily lived experiences. The implications of current theory to fundamental practice are discussed along with new findings not present in the current literature on the role of the chief of police.