EP55 ‘Advancing Policing in a Post Truth Era’ with Dr. Nick Carleton and Dr. Craig Bennell

Summary This conversation with two of Canada’s foremost police researchers, Dr. Nick Carleton and Dr. Craig Bennell, delves into the complexities surrounding police use of force, moral injuries to officers and their families, and the impact of context-void media narratives on public perception. The topic of the conversation centers around a recent research paper by Dr. Carleton and colleagues titled “A Contextualized Assessment of Duty-Related Bodily Harm Associated with Canadian Police Officers” published in 2025 by FACETS. This discussion highlights the need for better data and understanding of duty-related bodily harm, comparing police errors to those in healthcare. The speakers emphasize the importance of context in evaluating police actions and the challenges faced in changing the narrative around policing in Canada. This is a clarion call to police leadership and those with influence to shape the role of policing in society to stand up and take action.Takeaways• 51% of the public supported defunding the police in 2020.• Police officers often face moral injury due to public perception.• The media plays a significant role in shaping narratives about policing.• Duty-related bodily harm is defined as harm caused by police while on duty.• Comparative analysis shows police errors during use of force events are significantly lower than healthcare errors.• Public understanding of police use of force is often based on misconceptions.• Media coverage often lacks context, shapes incorrect conclusions and leads to negative perceptions of police.• Police officers are often the last line of defense in social crises.• There is a need for a multi-pronged approach to improve public perception of policing.