NCJ Number
174268
Journal
Police: The Law Enforcement Magazine Volume: 22 Issue: 8 Dated: August 1998 Pages: 72-76
Date Published
1998
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article surveys what medium-sized and smaller police departments consider the most significant problems facing law enforcement today.
Abstract
A survey of medium-sized and smaller police departments found that they are concerned about the same issues that trouble larger departments. The list of problem areas includes: drugs and related crimes; gangs and youth violence; domestic violence; quality of service to the public, in the face of spiraling population growth; effectively serving a culturally diverse community; burglaries; and traffic problems, including so-called þroad rage.þ Probably the most significant problem is drugs, because drugs are linked to so many other crimes, including theft and armed robbery. If awarded a $500,000, no-strings attached grant, most medium-sized and smaller departments would spend it for equipment and high technology gear; hire more officers and support staff; renovate aging facilities; and improve officer training, community policing efforts, early intervention programs for teens, and special units such as narcotics details, K-9 teams and bicycle patrols. Figures