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Incorporating Diversity: Police Response to Multicultural Changes in Their Communities

NCJ Number
159245
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 64 Issue: 12 Dated: (December 1995) Pages: 1-6
Author(s)
B R Bennett
Date Published
1995
Length
6 pages
Annotation
The U.S. population is more multicultural and diverse than it used to be, and police agencies in California have responded accordingly.
Abstract
Police departments in San Jose, Long Beach, Stockton, and Garden Grove provide law enforcement services in cities where blacks, Asians, and Hispanics represent almost 50 percent of the population. All four police departments have made concerted efforts to incorporate diverse community members through recruiting and hiring strategies, citizen participation, training programs for department employees and community members, community outreach initiatives, and community policing. The four police departments have the goal of being responsive to their changing communities. They focus on developing positive relationships with young people from diverse backgrounds, actively seeking input on department operations from all community members, conducting imaginative police training in the areas of cultural sensitivity and improved communication, and adopting the community policing philosophy. 3 endnotes and 1 table