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What Is Community Policing?
Partnership
Effective community policing has a positive impact on reducing neighborhood crime,
helping to reduce fear of crime and enhancing the quality of life in the community. It
accomplishes these things by combining the efforts and resources of the police, local
government and community members.
An Idea for the Times
Community policing is a collaborative effort between the police and the community that
identifies problems of crime and disorder and involves all elements of the community
in the search for solutions to these problems. It is founded on close, mutually
beneficial ties between police and community members.
Community policing offers a way for law enforcement to help re-energize our
communities. Developing strong, self-sufficient communities is an essential step in
creating an atmosphere in which serious crime will not flourish.
A Practical Approach to Problems
Community policing seeks the input and talents of all members of the community in
the effort to safeguard our neighborhoods. Community policing is being advocated by
leaders at the highest levels of government including President Clinton and Attorney
General Janet Reno, who describe it as the "changing of policing." It has even
been
suggested that community policing can play a primary role in directing the way
government services are provided at the community level.
Getting Back to the People
At the center of community policing are three essential and complementary core
components: community partnership, problem solving and change management.
Community partnership recognizes the value of bringing the people back into the
policing process. All elements of society must pull together as never before if we are to
deal effectively with the unacceptable level of crime claiming our neighborhoods.
Problem solving identifies the specific concerns that community members feel are
most threatening to their safety and well-being. These areas of concern then become
priorities for joint police-community interventions.
Change management requires a clear recognition that forging community policing
partnerships and implementing problem-solving activities will necessitate changes in the
organizational
structure of policing. Properly managed change involves a recognition of the need for
change, the communication of a clear vision that change is possible, the identification
of the concrete steps needed for positive change to occur, the development of an
understanding of the benefits of change, as well as the creation of an organization-wide
commitment to change.
What Makes Community Policing Different?
Law enforcement has long recognized the need for cooperation with the community it
serves. Officers speak to neighborhood groups, participate in business and civic
events, consult with social agencies and take part in education programs for school
children. Foot, bike and horse patrols bring police closer to the community.
More Effective Ways to Solve Ongoing Problems
Law enforcement leaders seeking innovative ways to enhance performance and
maximize resources have struck a responsive chord across the nation with a variety
of community policing initiatives. Government and community leaders are increasingly
cognizant that they must accept a share of the responsibility for problems caused by
lapses in many areas of society. Police have long borne a disproportionate share of
this burden.
Renewed Emphasis on Crime Prevention
Law enforcement is looking to enhance its tough stance on crime with renewed focus
on strategies that help prevent crime, reduce fear of crime and improve the quality of
life in neighborhoods. This requires an intimate knowledge of the community. Policing
concepts currently in vogue have tended to isolate officers from the communities they
serve which can hamper crime-control efforts.
Community policing allows law enforcement to get back to the principles upon which it
was founded, to integrate itself once again into the fabric of the community so that the
people come to the police for counsel and help before a serious problem arises, not
after the fact.
How Does Community Policing Work?
Expanded Policing Goals
Crime prevention takes on renewed importance in community policing as the police
and the community become partners in addressing problems of disorder and neglect
that can breed serious crime. As links between the police and the community are
strengthened over time, the partnership is better able to pinpoint and mitigate the
underlying causes of crime.
Community Policing Relies on Active Community Involvement
Community policing recognizes that community involvement gives new dimension to
crime- control activities. While police continue to handle crime fighting and law
enforcement responsibilities, the police and community work together to modify
conditions that can encourage criminal behavior. The resources available within
communities allow for an expanded focus on crime-prevention activities.
Police Services Delivered Through the Neighborhood Patrol Officer
Patrol officers and deputies are the primary providers of police services in community
policing efforts. They handle the daily policing needs of the community. The entire
police organization backs the efforts of the neighborhood officers.
Effective community policing depends on optimizing contact between patrol officers
and community members so that the officer develops an intimate knowledge of the
day-to-day workings of the community and becomes a familiar figure to community
members.
Trust Is the Heart
Establishing and maintaining mutual trust is the central goal of community partnership.
Trust will give the police greater access to valuable information that can lead to the
prevention of and solution of crimes. It will also engender support for police activities
and provide a basis for a productive working relationship with the community that will
find solutions to local problems.
Given the current climate of distrust in many of our communities, sheriffs and police
chiefs and their officers will need to make a concerted effort to forge bonds of
understanding and cooperation with community members. Building trust will require
ongoing effort, but it is essential to effective community policing.
Long-Term Commitment Needed
Community policing does not offer a quick fix. It requires a long-term commitment
by police to work with community members to reach mutually agreed-upon goals.
Forming lasting partnerships to eradicate the underlying causes of crime will take
effort, time and patience on the part of all involved.
Wide-Ranging Benefits
Law enforcement is finding that in addition to bringing police closer to the
people,
community policing offers a myriad of other benefits. Making effective use of the
talents and resources available within communities will help extend severely strained
police resources. As police interaction with the community becomes more positive,
productive partnerships will be formed, leading to greater satisfaction with police
services and increased job satisfaction among officers. Reduced levels of crime will
allow more police resources to be allocated to services that have the greatest impact
on the quality of community life.
How Do We Get Started?
Understand Community Policing
Ideally, members of a community desiring a transition to community policing have
a
basic understanding of the philosophy underlying it and the strategies required to
make it work. A first step in that direction is to read and disseminate the material that
is
located on this web site.
There is no single recipe for successful community policing implementation. The
appropriate implementation strategy will depend, in part, on conditions within your law
enforcement agency and your community. However, common to all community
policing strategies are the three core components of problem solving, community
partnership and change management. The basic requirements of these components
are communication, cooperation, coordination, collaboration and change. Getting
started requires a commitment to this community policing strategy.
Talk About It
Communication is the foundation for cooperation, coordination, collaboration and
change. It is important to start communication early in the community policing
implementation process.
If you are a representative of a law enforcement agency that is interested in implementing community policing, examine with your peers the crime control
problems in your community and discuss how a community policing approach can
enhance your current enforcement efforts. Share what you know about community
policing with community members and representatives of community groups. Begin
talking to them about their perceptions of crime and disorder in their neighborhoods.
If you are a civilian, contact your local law enforcement agency to discuss its
community policing efforts. Ask them how you, as a member of the community, can
assist them in addressing the problems of concern to you in your neighborhood.
Federal Community Policing Initiatives
If you would like to obtain information about COPS programs, or to request an
application for a COPS grant, call the Department of Justice Response Center at
(800) 421-6770.
The Charleston Police Department's Community Policing program was started in 1991
and has since grown into a strengthening bond between Charleston's community and
the Police Department.
For further information, contact the Community Services Division at (304) 348-6411
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