NCJ Number
181394
Date Published
1998
Length
14 pages
Annotation
A national survey of police chiefs examined the extent of organizational change and implementation of community policing, with emphasis on training and the conditions that promote or impede implementation.
Abstract
The Division of Governmental Studies and Services at Washington State University collected the data by means of mailed surveys to a representative national sample of chiefs of police in cities of over 25,000 population. The 3 waves of mailings sent in 1993 received responses from 228 (81 percent) of the 281 police agencies in the sample. A majority of police agencies reported the implementation of some types of community policing in the past 3 years. The most common programs were foot patrol (88.4 percent), special task units (91.6 percent), education of the public (98.1 percent) and block watch programs (97.7 percent). The average number of programs implemented was 9 of a possible 12. An interest in improving police and community relations was the top priority for the police chiefs. The main factors impeding changes were internal organizational obstacles and difficulties balancing community policing activities with traditional crime-fighting activities. Findings indicated that the transition toward community policing is not a matter of simple changes and that police officers' training and education is important. In addition, overcoming barriers requires priority attention to organizational problems that emerge during change. Findings also suggested the need for future studies on outcomes of community policing, employee attitudes, and facilitators and barriers to the implementation of community policing. Tables, notes, and 44 references