Profile: Brian Renauer

Dr. Renauer received his Ph.D. in 2000 from the State University of New York – Albany. His research interests were shaped by these graduate school experiences and the neighborhood and political cultures of Albany, NY. His work with the Police Community Interaction Project funded by the National Institute of Justice lead to the development and testing of measurement tools for police and communities to realize the strength (or weakness) of their partnerships in building community. His dissertation focused on why citizens get involved in community efforts to improve neighborhood sustainability. Dr. Renauer has continued to conduct community-level research with police departments and crime prevention programs since coming to Portland State University in 2000.

Dr. Renauer's newest research and community service interests involve his work with Oregon's Law Enforcement Contacts Policy and Data Review Committee (LECC). The LECC is charged by the Oregon Legislature to explore community concerns over racial/ethnic bias in law enforcement practices, to offer technical assistance to agencies that desire to collect traffic stop data, to improve training for the state, and monitor public perceptions of law enforcement. Dr Renauer became the Director of the Criminal Justice Policy Research Institute in 2006 and Chair of the Division in 2008.