Help or Harm? Qualitative Perceptions of Police Legitimacy, Vulnerability, and Willingness to Call 911 Among Black Emerging Adults

Background and Purpose

The recent deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and most recently Sonya Massey at the hands of police have sparked massive outrage, reigniting public conversations and urgent calls for systemic police reform. While police violence is not new in Black communities, high-profile cases in the media have exacerbated police-community relations—contributing to an erosion of trust in law enforcement and heightening concerns about police legitimacy, particularly among Black emerging adults. Consequently, when police officers violate their duty to serve and protect by engaging in gratuitous misuse of force, it can skew public perceptions of police officers as fair agents of the law and foster a pervasive sense of vulnerability that may discourage individuals from seeking police help (i.e., calling 911) during times of need.

Despite emerging research on the effects of social media exposure to police violence, little is known about how these vicarious experiences influence perceptions of police legitimacy among Black emerging adults. Moreover, there is a notable gap in research examining how these events shape perceptions of vulnerability and impact 911 help-seeking decisions. To address these gaps, this current study explored Black emerging adults’ experiences of vicarious police violence and examined how these experiences impact their perceptions of police legitimacy, vulnerability, and willingness to seek police assistance during emergencies.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews and focus groups were conducted with 15 Black male and 15 Black female undergraduate students from four historically Black colleges and universities in southeastern United States. The average participant was 21 years old and ages ranged from 18 to 28. Students were from various academic disciplines and college levels. Participants were recruited primarily through digital flyers and email correspondence with student organizations. The study used thematic analysis to understand participants’ views on police and their sense of vulnerability following highly visible cases of police violence. Qualitative data were transcribed, coded thematically, and analyzed using NVivo qualitative software.

Results

The study identified several themes that highlight the impact of vicarious police violence on Black emerging adults. Participants reported that repeated online exposure to incidents of police violence, coupled with the justice system’s apathy to hold police officers legally accountable, influenced their perceptions of police as less legitimate. Participants also described a heightened sense of vulnerability to potential police victimization as they no longer viewed police as protectors of their personal safety, but as harmful threats. Furthermore, participants reported that their fear and distrust of police served as a deterrent, making them less likely to contact law enforcement during emergencies (i.e., calling 911). Instead, they emphasized the need to rely on non-carceral approaches to public safety, including self-help strategies and community-led interventions.

Conclusion and Implications

Police violence is a serious problem that not only erodes public perceptions of law enforcement fairness, but also fosters a climate of distrust and vulnerability—posing serious implications for help-seeking and well-being for Black communities. Findings underscore the need for social workers to advocate for policy and practice reforms in policing to help restore civic trust and ensure police accountability.