Protecting Public Officials

J. David Chapman, PhD/May 10,, 2024

On February 8, 2017, the University of Central Oklahoma (College of Business) signed a formal Memorandum of Interest (MOI) with Coventry University in the U.K. The purpose of this agreement was to set a pathway for exploring potential collaborations in research, teaching, and social enterprise.

Since that pivotal agreement, the UCO Real Estate Program and the Coventry University’s Centre for Trust, Peace, and Social Relations have collaborated on dozens of research studies around the world. These studies have culminated in peer-reviewed journal articles, conference presentations, student education, and influence on both country’s policies regarding protective security.

We have interviewed thousands of individuals and groups in roles such as architects, construction, planning, and law enforcement to identify the security threats and develop a proper response from those involved in the built environment for those threats. Our most impactful research is probably that of Protecting People in Crowded Places. The gathering of people in public places is of the upmost importance to a healthy and vibrant community and critical for economic development. We must, and have, develop methods to protect this necessary activity.

We have also recently embarked on a study called Protecting People in Places of Worship interviewing pastors and those responsible for protecting parishioners. Again, we believe it is critical to be able to exercise our right to worship and it is necessary to provide safe places for these activities. Our research is helping to accomplish this goal.

For last two weeks, Coventry University researchers’ Dr. Bianca Slocombe and Dr. Matthew Francis have been in Oklahoma kicking off a new international research study with the UCO Real Estate Program called Protecting Local Elected Officials. The ability of local elected officials, such as Mayors and City Councilors, to serve their communities without the risk of physical or reputational harm is critical. The elected officials must be able to make proper decisions in regard to their communities without engendering improper and threatening responses from special-interest groups and individuals. There are also some indications that the occurrence of these threats may be keeping citizens from participating in public service, which is a fundamental necessity to our democracies.

In response, we are interviewing local Public Elected Officials, City Attorneys, local Police Chiefs, and even candidates that ran for office and were not elected. The University of Central Oklahoma is blessed to be able to accomplish this important work with such an esteemed partner as Coventry University.Top of Form

Dr. J. David Chapman is Professor of Finance & Real Estate at The University of Central Oklahoma (jchapman7@uco.edu)