COMMUNITY POLICING

Community Policing



Community Policing

Introduction

A revolution is taking place in policing and it has important implications for those in city government tasked with planning. This revolution is called community policing and it brings police work into a domain traditionally inhabited by community planners. This report will be the basis for the recommendation of a community oriented policing program. It will include a definition of what community policing is, as well as some core elements that are involved in a community oriented policing program(Fielding,1979)

Community policing is really a policing philosophy. Community policing should promote and support organizational strategies to address the causes and reduce the fear of crime and social disorder (Dantzker, 2003). This is done through the use of problem solving tactics and police community partnerships (COPS, n.d.). The community policing model should balance reactive responses to calls for service with proactive problem solving centered on the causes of crime.

Discussion

The goals and the methods of community policing are similar to those of community development planning. Both activities are designed to create stable, healthy neighborhoods. Both seek to involve community residents in improvement efforts. Thus, planners and community police officers need to work together to maximize their impacts and to take advantage of the perspectives and skills that each profession brings to the task of improving living conditions in the neighborhoods. Community oriented policing can be distinguished from traditional policing by recognizing three philosophical principles. These three principles are shared responsibility, prevention, and increased officer discretion (Rohe, n.d.)Both the police and members of the community share responsibility for the maintenance of order. Shared responsibility entails frequent and sustained communication between community residents and police personnel. Communication is essential in building mutual trust and cooperation.

In addition, share responsibility requires that community residents become more actively involved in crime prevention through activities such as reporting crime and organizing community watch or patrol groups. Shared responsibility also requires police to respond to the crime-related problems that community residents have identified as important. Shared responsibility typically translates into officers being given time to attend community meetings, conduct foot patrols, and otherwise informally interact with community residents. Finally, police must demonstrate respect for all residents.

Where traditional policing largely involves responding to calls for service once a crime has been committed, community policing involves identifying the underlying conditions that lead to crime and then organizing efforts to alter those conditions (Rohe, n.d.). In this sense, community policing has a problem solving orientation that typically involves the collaboration of police personnel, community residents, and other public and nonprofit organizations in the development and implementation of community improvement projects. These projects may range from the demolition of a crack house to the cleanup of a local park, or to the development of recreational programs for local youth. Operationally, this means officers need to be provided with the skills and the time to work on these projects.(Dantzker, 2003)

If officers are to be responsive to community concerns and build community trust, they need greater discretion in performing their ...