Jose Torres

Jose Torres is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Louisiana State University (LSU), affiliated with the Humanities & Social Sciences College. He joined LSU in 2016 after earning his PhD in Sociology from Virginia Tech. His research focuses on urban policing, police legitimacy, race/ethnicity dynamics in policing, and public housing community policing strategies.

Before academia, Torres spent three years (2009-2012) as a police officer with the Norfolk Police Department (NPD), working exclusively in low-income communities. His field experience includes service in NPD’s public housing community policing unit, earning awards such as the United States Attorney’s Office Public Service Award and Police Officer of the Second Quarter (2011).

Torres’s work bridges research and practice, with publications in journals like American Journal of Criminal Justice and Police Practice and Research. His current projects analyze banishment policies in public housing and post-Ferguson law enforcement attitudes. He teaches courses including Criminology (SOCL 4461) and Race & Criminal Justice (SOCL 7581), emphasizing practical insights from his law enforcement career.

• Awards:
• Letter of Commendation (NPD, 2011)
• Police Officer of the Second Quarter (2011)
• United States Attorney’s Office Public Service Award

Torres prioritizes mentorship, inspired by his own academic mentors, and focuses on empowering students to achieve career goals through critical engagement with policing systems.