Community Policing Today by Sean P O’Rourke
Faulkner University
3301- Criminology for Professor James Coker
Abstract
Community policing is a tool widely used in law enforcement today to create personal relationships with members of the community and law enforcement (Taking 1990). Law enforcement today is under strict scrutiny from the public. Many citizens have negative views of the police or have issues trusting them. In recent years following several questionable officer involved shootings, the relationship with the public and law enforcement has taken a drastic negative turn. Police departments across the nation are re-vamping their community policing programs to repair public relations.
History of Community Policing
Community policing was first introduced in the 1970’s but did not fully take effect until the 1980’s (Office, 2007). Community policing programs were initially put in place to lessen or eliminate historically negative perceptions of police (Office, 2007). Early efforts in community policing included citizen partnerships with police departments. These partnerships helped officers be informed with citizen concerns, but also took some of the blame for crime rates off of the police departments. Along with community partners, many police chiefs reinstated the practice of foot and bike patrol. Having an officer work a small area of a neighborhood allowed local business owners and residents to develop a personal relationship with beat cops in their area (Eggers, 1995). Unfortunately, research on community policing is inconclusive, however the FBI has reported that violent crime reports had significantly dropped since implementation of community policing programs (Sozer, 2013). Federal Funding In 1994 President Clinton and then Senator Joe Biden, created the Violent Crime and Law Enforcement Act. …show more content…
This allowed for the creation of the Office of Community Oriented Police Services within the Department of Justice, also known as COPS (COPS, 2015). The COPS Office provides funding to police departments that create community policing strategies. This federal funding allows departments to hire more police officers, and provides training and equipment needed by departments. By 2015 the COPS Office invested over $14 billion into community policing programs and funded nearly three quarters of police departments in the U.S. (COPS, 2015). With this type of funding available to police, the vast majority of police departments have some type of community based police system in place. In most cases the departments that do not include this type of system are small rural departments that cover largely unpopulated areas. Small Departments vs. Large Departments Department size does play a role in the effectiveness of community policing projects. While it may be easy to jump to the conclusion that a larger department would have a higher rate of success with a community policing project, often the opposite is true. Smaller departments have the advantage of knowing more people on a personal level. Due to these personal relationships, small town officers often are more responsive to community needs and concerns (Preserving, 2010). Smaller departments also are more likely to make policy changes due to community concern or complaints than larger departments. While there are differences between department size, it is often seen that departments have similar goals in mind for their community policing programs. Most programs seek to prevent violent crime and property crimes (Preserving, 2010). Overall, public safety seems to be the main focus regardless of department or population size. Relevancy Today In today’s society, it is very important that police departments have a community …show more content…
In today’s society, community policing is possibly more important than ever. Law enforcement agencies need to repair strained relationships with the public and ensure transparency (Kringen, 2017). Police departments can help repair these broken relationships by engaging in public outreach programs and developing personal relationships on an individual level. The federal government believes in the positive results of community policing so much, that it offers large funding to police departments for participation in community based policing. This federal funding is a great way to cover the cost of hiring more officers, providing needed training, and receiving proper equipment. Departments that participate in community policing report lower crime rates, and higher citizen satisfaction levels with law enforcement, than agencies that do not participate (Sozer, 2013). While community policing may not fix every problem with law enforcement today, it is a great start to regain public
Faulkner University
3301- Criminology for Professor James Coker
Abstract
Community policing is a tool widely used in law enforcement today to create personal relationships with members of the community and law enforcement (Taking 1990). Law enforcement today is under strict scrutiny from the public. Many citizens have negative views of the police or have issues trusting them. In recent years following several questionable officer involved shootings, the relationship with the public and law enforcement has taken a drastic negative turn. Police departments across the nation are re-vamping their community policing programs to repair public relations.
History of Community Policing
Community policing was first introduced in the 1970’s but did not fully take effect until the 1980’s (Office, 2007). Community policing programs were initially put in place to lessen or eliminate historically negative perceptions of police (Office, 2007). Early efforts in community policing included citizen partnerships with police departments. These partnerships helped officers be informed with citizen concerns, but also took some of the blame for crime rates off of the police departments. Along with community partners, many police chiefs reinstated the practice of foot and bike patrol. Having an officer work a small area of a neighborhood allowed local business owners and residents to develop a personal relationship with beat cops in their area (Eggers, 1995). Unfortunately, research on community policing is inconclusive, however the FBI has reported that violent crime reports had significantly dropped since implementation of community policing programs (Sozer, 2013). Federal Funding In 1994 President Clinton and then Senator Joe Biden, created the Violent Crime and Law Enforcement Act. …show more content…
This allowed for the creation of the Office of Community Oriented Police Services within the Department of Justice, also known as COPS (COPS, 2015). The COPS Office provides funding to police departments that create community policing strategies. This federal funding allows departments to hire more police officers, and provides training and equipment needed by departments. By 2015 the COPS Office invested over $14 billion into community policing programs and funded nearly three quarters of police departments in the U.S. (COPS, 2015). With this type of funding available to police, the vast majority of police departments have some type of community based police system in place. In most cases the departments that do not include this type of system are small rural departments that cover largely unpopulated areas. Small Departments vs. Large Departments Department size does play a role in the effectiveness of community policing projects. While it may be easy to jump to the conclusion that a larger department would have a higher rate of success with a community policing project, often the opposite is true. Smaller departments have the advantage of knowing more people on a personal level. Due to these personal relationships, small town officers often are more responsive to community needs and concerns (Preserving, 2010). Smaller departments also are more likely to make policy changes due to community concern or complaints than larger departments. While there are differences between department size, it is often seen that departments have similar goals in mind for their community policing programs. Most programs seek to prevent violent crime and property crimes (Preserving, 2010). Overall, public safety seems to be the main focus regardless of department or population size. Relevancy Today In today’s society, it is very important that police departments have a community …show more content…
In today’s society, community policing is possibly more important than ever. Law enforcement agencies need to repair strained relationships with the public and ensure transparency (Kringen, 2017). Police departments can help repair these broken relationships by engaging in public outreach programs and developing personal relationships on an individual level. The federal government believes in the positive results of community policing so much, that it offers large funding to police departments for participation in community based policing. This federal funding is a great way to cover the cost of hiring more officers, providing needed training, and receiving proper equipment. Departments that participate in community policing report lower crime rates, and higher citizen satisfaction levels with law enforcement, than agencies that do not participate (Sozer, 2013). While community policing may not fix every problem with law enforcement today, it is a great start to regain public