By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing
• Researchers are seeking sworn police officers who are parents or guardians to take part in a national study on balancing family life and law enforcement duties.
• The anonymous survey titled “Balancing the Badge and the Home” will examine how shift work, stress and police culture affect officers and their families.
• Officers of all ranks, agency sizes and family structures are eligible to participate.
• The survey takes about 15 minutes to complete and closes Aug. 31, 2026.
WASHINGTON, D.C. —
Researchers are inviting sworn police officers who are parents or legal guardians to participate in a national study focused on understanding the balance between law enforcement careers and family responsibilities, officials said.
The study, titled “Balancing the Badge and the Home,” is designed to explore how factors such as shift schedules, occupational stress, departmental culture and parenting duties intersect in the lives of officer families.
Eligible participants include currently employed sworn officers from agencies of all sizes and ranks, as long as they are parents or guardians of at least one child, according to the research announcement.
Organizers said the anonymous online survey takes approximately 15 minutes to complete and can provide insights that may help agencies better understand work-family dynamics and support systems for officers.
The survey is scheduled to remain open through Aug. 31, 2026.