NCJ Number
198735
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 31 Issue: 1 Dated: January/February 2003 Pages: 57-71
Editor(s)
Kent B. Joscelyn
Date Published
January 2003
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This article reports on research conducted to examine the factors related to acceptance of the community policing philosophy by the police officers who implement it.
Abstract
Community policing is characterized by its emphasis on a partnership between police and citizens and is a new model for policing. Administrators agree that community policing is the future of law enforcement in America. Successful implementation of this organizational change may rely on identifying individuals who are the most supportive of community policing. Surveys were administered by researchers at roll call to 445 officers of all departmental ranks in order to identify those factors related to acceptance of the community policing philosophy. It was found that officers who supported informal problem-solving tactics including involving agencies outside the police department and officers who were non-white were more likely to support concepts of community policing. However, other factors previously presumed to be related to support for community policing did not materialize in the survey results, such as including previous work on structured problem-solving projects, rank, education, and desire for autonomy. Explanations and policy implications are discussed, such as the need to address the nature of the relationship between rank and line officers. A source list of references is provided.