“Scholars and journalists have strong incentives to write quickly on ‘hot’ topics such as police militarization. However, speed can be the enemy of careful data collection and curation. After five years of research, we are still a long way from understanding the impact of giving local police weapons and equipment designed for military use,” wrote Kenneth Lowande, assistant professor of political science, and undergraduate student Ayse Eldes, whose article in the Washington Post contends that claims by the Trump administration that military equipment improves policing are based on flawed data.
Kenneth Lowande studies American political institutions and policymaking.
