Police–public trust: Toward a more complete perspective

By Richard A. Wise, Roger C. Mayer, and Scott M. Mourtguey Richard A. Wise, Roger C. Mayer, and Scott M.

Discussion of the police–public relationship focuses on the public’s lack of trust in police. Our research suggests that police trust in the public is another important factor in this relationship and that addressing trust concerns on both sides may improve it. We conducted two studies of police trust in the public. The results suggested that the more police trust the public, the more constructive risks they take in performing their jobs. Based on our results, we highlight the importance of reciprocity and attempting to simultaneously increase both police and public trust to improve their relationship. Measures developed for these studies may inform future research on police trust in the public and develop interventions to improve it.

Behavioral Science & Policy, Volume 11, Issue 2, October 2025, Pages 31-37