Community Policing Research Paper

Today, many police officers are out performing patrols on foot and on bike, interacting with the public through meet and greets, and participating in community service projects to help make the city a great place to live (Roufta, n.d.). Furthermore, this method of policing also allows the community to get involved with their local law enforcement. Through initiatives such as block watches, police officers can now answer calls from the neighborhood. Overall, today’s policing has created a method of policing known as Community Oriented Policing. Community Oriented Policing is a style of policing that involves police officers partnering with their communities to help solve problems and to attack the core problems that lead to crime in the first place (“Law Enforcement and Community Relations,” (n.d.), para. 24).

“Community policing is, in essence, a collaboration between the police and the community that identifies and solves community problems” (U.S. Department of Justice, 1994, p. vii). Throughout the years, community policing has become a more popular strategy to help law enforcement officials control and deter crime; however, some areas across the United States has had problems in the past with communities and law enforcement working together to ensure a secure and safe environment. Although it is an officer’s duty to maintain order, keep the peace, and solve problems within the area he or she

Wells. W. (2009) “Community Partnership.” In E. Maguire and Wells (eds). Implementing Community Policing: Washington D.C.: Department of justice, Office of community oriented Policing Services.

Policing and the way they operate are truly similar as if they are hand in hand with one another. In order for operations to run smoothly and the department to be functioning as one there has to be proper training and care from the supervisors, administrators and from everyone who works together to understand that they’re a team. Everyone in the police department has to work together instead of against one another just to make sure everyone is doing their jobs by the books with no room for errors.

Law enforcement agencies have been building relationships within their prospective communities for the past 20 years or so which has allowed them to recognize and address growing concerns(Intelligence-Led, n.d.). Consequently, law

This program would be developed in a manner that the community can come and address the issues in their community with law enforcement, as well as get to know the officers patrolling their neighborhoods. This could show the community and the officers that there are no differences that can’t be solved with communication. A similar program has been used by the nearby department in San Jose. The program goal “is to help our residents learn about issues and challenges, share their ideas, and help propose collaborative solutions that can lead to long-term relationships between police officers and our community that are more trusting and productive for everyone.” (Newsroom,

These types of community involvement foster the positive growth and relations that are needed to ease the tensions with law enforcement. These programs help build trust and can give the community a sense of security. However, incidents such as excessive force can tear away any sense of unity that the aforementioned programs build. In an incident that

Law enforcement must endeavor to keep programs such as citizens’ academies, town hall meetings and philosophies such as community oriented policing. Why? Because they maintain the pipeline to the public and they keep law enforcement in touch with the community. There is a need for more communication between law enforcement and community stakeholders. For the police to maintain the public’s trust in the face of negative incidents and changing demographics, the manner in which they convey their trustworthiness may have to change. To achieve real transparency its going to take more that technical gadgetry. Tracie Keesee, a police captain who is also the co-founder of RCLA’s Center for Policing Equity, suggest turning precinct houses into public spaces. “It might be adjoined with a rec center,” she says. “There could be wireless in the lobby, a room for community meetings, so that it’s not just that you come in when you’re handcuffed or making a report. (Bennett, D, 2014).”

Law enforcement uses a strategy called community policing and involves the community by starting partnerships and develops techniques for problem-solving that are tailored to address the causes of crime proactively in order to reduce the fear of crime. The core

Under community policing systems there is an emphasis on partnerships, and developing trust between the community and the police officers, with the goal of working together towards common goals such as reducing violent crime and providing safety for the most vulnerable members of the public. (Oliver, 2011). The main advantage of community policing is that it enlists the public as an ally in the goal of reducing crime, instead of having a public that is sceptical or outright hostile towards the police. In practical terms, community policing generates more leads and cooperation from the public, since the public views the police officers as a force for good. (Greene,

Community policing started in the 1980s when agencies started to move away from a crime-fighting model. This model is based on establishing partnerships with and in the community, including officers and citizens. This was largely based on the fact that through the previous model agencies noticed that they were losing touch with the very communities they had been sworn to protect (Cox, 2014). This method is important to society because it encompasses both officers and private citizens. It gives everyone the chance to have input on policing. It brings support through and with the people of a community together for a common goal.

There have been many different traditional and practical approaches addressed and some of them you may not have never heard of to combat problems in policing (Plant, J. & Scott, M., July 2009, p. 31). And while some rely on their police chief executive or supervisor to understand these approaches and to craft a sensible local approach from among them, having some familiarity with and understanding of the most common approaches will enhance their ability to provide knowledgeable support and oversight to their police agency (Plant, J. & Scott, M., July 2009, p. 31). The organization will run more effectively and effeciently if everyone take a part in knowing their roles, responsibilites, and staying up to date on their

The success of implementing a program like this requires that both parties be well informed and well educated on the changes that will take place. One of the first steps is to market the concept of community policing both internally (within the department), as well as externally(within the community).  Marketing community policing internally often involves collapsing the existing structures of authority that are in place as well as the specialization within the department.  The case study mentioned that although the senior administrators in the department played a critical role in the reform, it was also necessary that line level officers be active participants in the process.  After all, two important components of community policing are empowerment and ownership.  Officers were given ownership of certain areas that were

I believe that it’s very important for law enforcement agencies to focus on community policing. When officers have good relationships with the communities that they serve, it makes solving crimes more manageable and develops more of an intimate bond between the agency and community.

There are multiple approaches to engaging a police force with the community in order to most effectively prevent and respond to crime, and considering the relative strengths and weakness of each of these strategic models will demonstrate how models can impact the operation of daily policing practices and activities. The model under discussion here is called community oriented policing (COP), and focuses on building relationships and rapport between officers and the community in order to more effectively prevent crime. It is augmented by a model called problem solving policing (PSP), and depends upon rank-and-file officers identifying community problem areas through direct observation and analysis. Each model excels at slightly different things, and in practice most police agencies deploy a mix of models. By examining the Miami-Dade Police Department's handbook for school resource officers, it will be possible to view a COP/PSP policy in action in order to better understand how these models practically affect policing.