Michael is a third-year PhD candidate in the Department of History at York University. His research focuses on themes of state formation and crime prevention within sociopolitical claims of police independence and legislative authority. Under the supervision of Dr. Marcel Martel, Michael’s dissertation examines the historical development of police culture and the performance of crime prevention in Ontario. He seeks to evaluate how municipal policing bodies functioned as instruments favourable to a dominant hegemonic group. Using frameworks such as imperial feedback, performance and ideologies about independent versus democratic police models, Michael intends to unpack the legitimacy of police culture that disseminated from para-military initiatives. While highlighting the historical significance of authority, Michael is sensitive to current discussions about accountability and funding.
Michael holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts from the University of Guelph. As the recipient of a SSHRC grant, Michael travelled to England during the completion of his MA to conduct archival research on the treatment of enemy aliens during the First World War. He considers himself a scholar of nineteenth and twentieth century history, analyzing transnational issues related to state formation and crime.