Community Policing and Terrorism

• NCJ Number: 200121
• Author(s): Matthew C. Scheider Ph.D.; Robert Chapman
• Date Published: April 2003
• Length: 7 pages
• Sale Source: ANSER Institute for Homeland Security
• Publication Format: Document (Online)
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Downloaded April 30, 2003

Annotation

This document discusses the effectiveness of community policing in dealing with the threat of terrorism.

Abstract

The responsibility for dealing with terrorist threats and for alleviating citizen fear rests largely at the local level. Community policing shifts the focus of police by placing equal emphasis on crime control, order maintenance, and service provision. The police work with citizens and with other government agencies in efforts to increase overall quality of life. Community policing models move toward active problem solving centered on the underlying conditions that give rise to crime and disorder and on fostering partnerships between the police and the community. The community policing philosophy can be divided into three interrelated elements: organizational change, problem solving, and external partnerships. Each element applies to the issues of terrorism prevention and response, as well as to fear. Empowering officers at lower levels with decision making authority and familiarizing them with making important decisions could be of value in a terrorist event. Community policing encourages agencies to conduct complex analyses of the possible threats and of their relative likelihood of occurring. The community-policing model encourages the development of ongoing and effective partnerships between law enforcement agencies and local, State, and Federal entities, which can be invaluable in preventing terrorist activity because of increased opportunities for intelligence gathering and sharing. Reducing fear of crime has been associated with community policing programs since their inception. Dealing with citizen fear of crime is important because it can lead to hate crimes and illegal bigotry. As a result of the emphasis on community, police officers should be more attuned to rising levels of community concern and fear. Community policing encourages a deeper understanding of the fear that may result from terrorist events. The emphasis on building strong community partnerships encouraged by community policing may also help reduce citizen fear of terrorist events. 13 references