Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Date of Degree

6-2026

Document Type

Doctoral Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Program

Criminal Justice

Advisor

Maria (Maki) Haberfeld

Committee Members

Brian Lawton

Heath Grant

Christopher Mercado

Subject Categories

Other Social and Behavioral Sciences

Keywords

Police, COVID-19, vaccine

Abstract

Guided by moral panic theory, this study examined police officers’ decision-making regarding COVID-19 vaccination during two pivotal phases of the pandemic: the initial vaccine rollout in December 2020 and the implementation of vaccine mandates in late 2021. Using a sequential mixed-methods design, the study draws on survey data from sworn law enforcement officers collected through Police1.com (Phase 1, N = 3,124) and a follow-up survey with open-ended responses conducted during the mandate period (Phase 2, N = 281), supplemented by qualitative content and thematic analyses. Quantitative analyses assessed how moral/ethical obligation, support for mandates, and occupational role predicted vaccination intentions during the rollout phase, and how vaccination status predicted vaccine safety beliefs during the mandate phase. Results indicate sharp polarization in vaccination decision-making. Moral/ethical obligation emerged as the strongest and most consistent predictor of vaccine acceptance, with mandate support also strongly associated with intent; patrol and investigative officers were significantly less likely to intend toward vaccination than administrative staff. During the mandate period, vaccination status was overwhelmingly associated with vaccine safety beliefs, revealing near-complete polarization between vaccinated and unvaccinated officers. Qualitative findings contextualized these patterns by emphasizing distrust in institutions and information environments, resistance to perceived coercion, and the moralization of vaccination as autonomy and rights. Together, the findings suggest that vaccine decision-making in policing was shaped primarily by moral framing, institutional trust, and subcultural filters operating within a politicized crisis environment.

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