Rylan Simpson

Criminologist, Police Researcher & Associate Professor at @SFU @sfucriminology • Advocate for evidence-based policy and practice • PhD from @UCIrvine

[Rylan Simpson @rylan_simpson]

Policing is facing #recruitment crisis: # applicants continue to ↓ across continent.

One tool freq used by #police = recruitment videos. But what do these videos highlight & how can they affect who applies?

In new article, I explore these ?s: https://t.co/o7GvFHsexf

🧵:

1/15

[Justin Nix @jnixy]

Calling all researchers doing work in the areas of policing and public safety:

Abstracts for an upcoming special issue of Journal of Experimental Criminology (guest-edited by @rylan_simpson and me) are due this Friday.

Reach out with any questions / more info below →

[Rylan Simpson @rylan_simpson]

🚨 Call for submissions 🚨

On behalf of ASC’s DEC & DOP, we invite submissions for a SI of Journal of Experimental Criminology dedicated to Experiments in Policing & Public Safety.

Abstracts due: Mar 6, 2026

Full call: https://t.co/2oZd1WkWoj

Contact: @rylan_simpson & @jnixy

[Rylan Simpson @rylan_simpson]

Ofcrs perceived #helicopter unit favorably & equated its work to multiple ground-level ofcrs at a call.

Some nuance emerged among questions & groups of ofcrs.

I discuss results re: #policing research & practice.

Full article avail for free via https://t.co/kJjKuLLLm4.

3/3

[Rylan Simpson @rylan_simpson]

Helicopter units = common among large #police agencies in 🇺🇸 & 🇨🇦.

Goal of these units = help ofcrs on ground.

But what do ground-level ofcrs actually think abt #helicopter units?

In my new PJPP article, I surveyed ofcrs abt their attitudes: https://t.co/kJjKuLLLm4.

A 🧵

1/3

[Rylan Simpson @rylan_simpson]

I surveyed ofcrs from 2 PDs in 🇺🇸 that employ #helicopter units. 🚁

I asked ofcrs about their perceptions of purpose, utility, deterrence, benefits & personal impacts of helicopter unit.

I then analyzed responses, incl by #police agency & unit assignment, via quant means.

2/3

[Rylan Simpson @rylan_simpson]

We discuss the results from our researcher-practitioner collaboration w/ respect to #policing research & practice.

We are esp excited about this project b/c it included participation from 3 PDs in 3 provinces of 🇨🇦.

Full article avail for free via https://t.co/lW6kVhE8KJ.

4/4

[Rylan Simpson @rylan_simpson]

Shopping malls = sites of many ppl, social activities & crimes.

Demand for police esp high at malls during holiday shopping season (HSS).

In new article, we parked police cars at malls during HSS to assess their effects on calls & visibility: https://t.co/lW6kVhE8KJ

A 🧵:

1/4

[Rylan Simpson @rylan_simpson]

Our analyses revealed little effect of presence of #police cars on calls at #malls, with possible effects at only one mall.

However, our analyses revealed effects for police visibility: with variation in reported sightings of police cars by mall patrons across study period.

3/4

[Rylan Simpson @rylan_simpson]

Teaching and mentorship rest at the root of nearly everything that I do as a scholar, educator, and researcher.

I feel incredibly honoured to receive this award from the American Society of Criminology's Division of Policing.

[SFU Criminology @sfucriminology]

Congratulations to professor @rylan_simpson for being awarded the Teaching and Mentorship Award from the American Society of Criminology’s Division of Policing (DOP)!

His dedication to students and passion for teaching continue to inspire us.
#SFUCriminology #ASCriminology2025

[Rylan Simpson @rylan_simpson]

We discuss our findings in the context of #policing #research & #practice, incl as it relates to social media & community policing.

I am very proud of Janine for this work & excited to celebrate her first publication. 👏

For more info, pls see https://t.co/WIPyRVD2zI.

4/4

[Rylan Simpson @rylan_simpson]

🚨 Social media is everywhere, incl in #policing.

👮 In new article, led by my @SFU grad student, Janine Namoro, we examined how #officers use Twitter (X) at an individual-level in a professional capacity.

📊 We find many interesting findings: https://t.co/WIPyRVD2zI

A 🧵

1/4

[Rylan Simpson @rylan_simpson]

Consistent with organizational-level findings, we found that ofcrs frequently employed the push strategy when tweeting.

Nonetheless, some variation in engagement style & posting practices emerged by ofcr characteristics, incl ofcr gender, ofcr rank & frequency of posting.

3/4

[SFU Criminology @sfucriminology]

The latest issue of Research Connections is out!

This edition features a wide range of studies exploring new insights across the criminal justice system, criminological theory, and policy.

Read the full issue here:
https://t.co/YvJyP6aheX

#SFUCriminology #CriminologyResearch

[Rylan Simpson @rylan_simpson]

On behalf of the DEC Executive Board & AEC President, I'm very pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025 DEC/AEC Awards.

We congratulate all recipients on their outstanding accomplishments & we thank them for their exceptional contributions to #experimental #criminology! 👏

[Rylan Simpson @rylan_simpson]

I discuss what my #results might mean for how PDs design & deploy their 🚔.

I also highlight implications of #police #vehicle #designs for research regarding police interventions.

Full article now avail via https://t.co/uv2OnZJ1Mw.

5/5

[Rylan Simpson @rylan_simpson]

🚨 Police #visibility = impt metric for many #policing activities.

It’s often assumed that physical presence of 🚔 = ppl see the 🚔.

But do ppl always see the 🚔 when they're present?

In my new JOEX article, I find the answer is *no*: https://t.co/uv2OnZItWY.

A 🧵:

1/5

[Rylan Simpson @rylan_simpson]

My #results revealed greater detection accuracy when 🚔 were marked versus unmarked, with increase in accuracy as visual salience increased.

Under low visibility conditions, my results also revealed greater detection accuracy of marked 🚔 when they had a B&W color scheme.

4/5