Media Influence on Executive Police Decision-Making: A Case Study of Police and Media Interaction During the Oklahoma City Bombing Investigation and Trials

Because media influence public opinion, it is often surmised that media also influence the decisions of police executives. This exploratory case study examined the relationship between police and media during the Oklahoma City bombing investigation and subsequent trials of Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols. Findings indicate that media influence police executive decisions when police and media interact closely. It was found that during the Oklahoma City bombing investigation and trials, police on the outer perimeter were influenced most and police conducting the investigation or who were tasked to court room security were influenced the least. It was concluded, based on the consensus of respondents interviewed, that media do influence police executive decisions.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of North Texas

Year dc:date

2001

Author dc:creator

• Bellew, Steven S.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Caeti, Tory J.
• Taylor, Robert W.
• Fritsch, Eric J.

• Oklahoma City Federal Building Bombing, Oklahoma City, Okla., 1995.
• Bombing investigation -- Oklahoma -- Oklahoma City.
• public opinion
• Oklahoma City bombing
• police decision-making
• police executives
• media

Statement dc:rights

• Public
• Copyright
• Bellew, Steven S.
• Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.

Language dc:language

English

Identifier

oclc: 47991963
https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc2821/
ark: ark:/67531/metadc2821

OAI identifier oai:identifier

info:ark/67531/metadc2821