NCJ Number
141058
Date Published
1993
Length
231 pages
Annotation
Policing innovations in seven cities in Washington were studied with respect to their nature, strengths, limiting factors, impacts, and financial aspects and the impacts of State aid that began in 1990 and will be discontinued at the end of 1993.
Abstract
The study was prompted by the plan to discontinue added State aid and by the emergence of community policing as a new law enforcement strategy. Data were gathered from Seattle, Tacoma, Lacey, Shelton, Yakima, Kennewick, and Sunnywide. These cities were chosen for geographical, population, and practical reasons. Each city's innovative law enforcement strategies were identified through a survey and interviews with local police and government officials. Results revealed that all seven cities had adopted or were adopting the community policing philosophy or had implemented innovative strategies that included many of the goals of community policing. Flexibility, improved citizen satisfaction and involvement, and coordinated efforts were the strengths of the innovations. Population growth and a lack of resources limited the efforts, however. The main costs were personnel costs and minimal capital costs. Findings also indicated that State funding has been widely invested and that the ending of the State aid will prevent many cities from implementing or improving promising law enforcement strategies. Therefore, the reenactment of the State law providing the aid is essential to the continuation of the innovations. Figures, tables, forms and background materials, and 48 references