Community Policing
Ronda Valasco A. J. #118
Community Policing
"Community Policing" describes a partnership between the Police Department and the residents of any community, city or town. They work together to prevent crime and solve neighborhood problems. An effective community policing plan will reduce neighborhood crime, decrease citizens’ fear of crime, and enhance the quality of life in the community. Community policing stresses prevention, early identification, and timely intervention to deal with issues before they become huge problems. Officers are encouraged to spend considerable time and effort in developing and maintaining personal relationships with citizens, businesses, schools, and community organizations. Solving problems often does not always involve arrest and, in many cases, it does not guarantee that a problem will disappear completely. Not all of the problems will involve criminal activity, and many will not even be considered a priority by the police. However, where serious crime is not involved, the concerns and fears of the community should determine the priorities of the department. Many police departments and police officers define their role primarily in terms of crime control. Policing is much more than law enforcement. Officers in community-based police departments understand that catching "bad guys" is only one part of their job. In community policing, officer's functions include services for aiding accident and crime victims, arbitrating neighborhood and domestic disputes, and providing emergency medical and social services. Officers understand that resolving a problem with unruly people drinking at a public park, working to reduce truancy at a middle school and removing abandoned vehicles from
Community Policing
"Community Policing" describes a partnership between the Police Department and the residents of any community, city or town. They work together to prevent crime and solve neighborhood problems. An effective community policing plan will reduce neighborhood crime, decrease citizens’ fear of crime, and enhance the quality of life in the community. Community policing stresses prevention, early identification, and timely intervention to deal with issues before they become huge problems. Officers are encouraged to spend considerable time and effort in developing and maintaining personal relationships with citizens, businesses, schools, and community organizations. Solving problems often does not always involve arrest and, in many cases, it does not guarantee that a problem will disappear completely. Not all of the problems will involve criminal activity, and many will not even be considered a priority by the police. However, where serious crime is not involved, the concerns and fears of the community should determine the priorities of the department. Many police departments and police officers define their role primarily in terms of crime control. Policing is much more than law enforcement. Officers in community-based police departments understand that catching "bad guys" is only one part of their job. In community policing, officer's functions include services for aiding accident and crime victims, arbitrating neighborhood and domestic disputes, and providing emergency medical and social services. Officers understand that resolving a problem with unruly people drinking at a public park, working to reduce truancy at a middle school and removing abandoned vehicles from