NCJ Number
82877
Date Published
1981
Length
12 pages
Annotation
The manual discusses the need for law enforcement agencies to foster citizen support for their efforts and presents methods for designing a community relations program using the input of law enforcement officials at all levels.
Abstract
It is designed for administrators who are making critical assessments of their opperations, line officers, and new officers. Citizen support is needed because poor police-community relations have a negative effect on both police departments and citizens. The public image of law enforcement must be one of honesty, trust, integrity, fairness, and courtesy. Such an image must be earned; until it is, community relations will suffer and will continue to contribute to the deterioration of effective law enforcement. All police officials should treat all citizens with courtesy, respect, and honesty. It is also important to avoid separate rules for different types of neighorhoods. To avoid generating support from one group at the expense of another, departmental efforts to promote citizen support must take all groups into account. Law enforcement personnel must also recognize that criticism from the public is part of the job and must avoid becoming either too sensitive or indifferent. All individual actions on the part of enforcement officials reflect upon the department as a whole. Police officers must recognize that their fraternal nature makes it difficult to police their fellow officers. Officers must be professionals and act with dignity in all circumstances. Methods for developing positive community relations include the establishment of a police-community relations unit, the use of a citizen advisory committee, the use of neighborhood liaison groups, the development of public education programs, fostering good relations with civic groups, and constructive use of the media. A series of 38 statements reflecting a wide range of opinions about law enforcement are presented to stimulate police personnel to think about their attitudes and roles in police-community relations. The statements can be used in group programs or by individuals. Fifteen references are listed.