Focus Areas 

We study how crowds behave, how police respond to demonstrations and major events, and what factors lead ordinary gatherings to become disorderly or violent. We also advise police agencies and community organizations preparing for events where violence is a risk.

We study the physical and psychological effects of public-safety work on police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and dispatchers. We also evaluate programs designed to improve first responders’ health and wellness, including outcomes such as stress, trauma, anxiety, depression, and sleep.

We study public safety problems in developing nations, with a particular focus on the Caribbean, often working with local agencies, governments, and scholars. Our work addresses a wide range of topics, including recent projects on crimes against women in India and a survey of prison officers in Trinidad.