Dr. Josh Murphy
Researcher, Consultant, and Criminology Instructor at Kwantlen Polytechnic University
About
Dr. Joshua J. Murphy is a Professor of Criminology in the Department of Criminology at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in Surrey, BC. He received his PhD from Simon Fraser University in 2022. His PhD focused on Canadian police leadership succession and succession planning. Dr. Murphy has participated in a plethora of police-related research projects in a variety of roles, including team lead, field research coordinator, and field researcher. Through his extensive applied research across multiple police agencies, Dr. Murphy has developed strong expertise in frontline patrol operations and deployment, police executive leadership, and organizational culture and dynamics. His work has provided him with a nuanced understanding of how policing strategies are implemented in practice and how leadership and structure shape service delivery.
Teaching
Josh Murphy is a professor at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) in British Columbia, Canada. His teaching and research interests are focused on policing and public safety.
- CRIM 1101 - Introduction to the Canadian Criminal Justice System
- CRIM 1100 - Introduction to Criminology
- CRIM 2331 - Sociological Explanations of Criminal Behaviour
- CRIM 2211 - Introduction to Canadian Policing
- CRIM 2355 - Police Misconduct and Accountability
- CRIM 3211 - Community Policing
- CRIM 3100 - Advanced Theories of Crime and Community
- CRIM 3104 - Qualitative Research Methods
Research Interests
- Police Leadership Development and Succession Planning
- Police Misconduct and Accountability
- Police Use of Force
- Operational Policing and Patrol Deployment
- Police Staffing and Resourcing
Recent Consulting Work
2017-Present
-
The Economics of Policing: Modules for Training and Dialogue Canadian Police Association In progress
-
Organizational Review of the Saanich (BC) Police Department Saanich Police Board and Saanich Police Department
-
Body-Worn Camera Policy Review Client not specified
-
Restructuring the Delivery of Police Services in BC: Regionalization BC Association of Municipal Chiefs of Police
-
Resource Review of the Prince George RCMP Detachment City of Prince George
-
The Mental Health and Wellbeing of Sworn Officers and Civilians in the Victoria, British Columbia Police Department: Current Issues and a Way Forward Victoria City Police Union and Victoria Police Department
-
Evaluation of the Metro Vancouver Transit Police Service Delivery Model Metro Vancouver Transit Police
-
Kelowna RCMP and Police Services Resource Review City of Kelowna
-
Vancouver Police Board Street Check Review Vancouver Police Board
-
JIBC Police Academy Recruit Curriculum Evaluation Policing and Security Branch, Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General
-
The City of Edmonton Street Checks Policy & Practice Review Edmonton Police Commission
-
Vancouver Police Operational Review Vancouver Police Department
Presented Papers and Keynote Presentations
-
Looking Inside the Building: A Focus on the Dynamics of Police Leadership in Canadian Police Services. Webinar for members of the Canadian Association of Police Governance (CAPG), February 20262026
-
Taking the Reins: An Exploratory Study of Police Leadership Succession and Succession Planning in Canada. Leadership in Policing: A Shared Perspective conference (CAPG and CPA), November 20232023
-
Vancouver Police Board Street Check Review. Annual meeting of the American Society of Criminology, San Francisco, November 20192019
-
Off the Rails: The Use of Time and Task Analysis to Study the Metro Vancouver Transit Police. Annual meeting of the American Society of Criminology, New Orleans, November 20162016
-
They Don't Teach You That in a Method's Text: Conducting Field Research with Police. Annual meeting of the Western Society of Criminology, Vancouver, British Columbia, February 20162016
-
Back from the Abyss: The State of Police Research in Canada. Annual meeting of the American Society of Criminology, Washington, D.C., November 20152015
-
A Safe Journey? Exploring User's Perceptions of Safety on British Columbia's Skytrain Through the Use of Student-Administered Surveys. Annual meeting of the American Society of Criminology, San Francisco, November 20142014