NCJ Number
133113
Date Published
1992
Length
30 pages
Annotation
Community policing embodies operational and managerial philosophies that directly benefit the law enforcement organization and the community.
Abstract
Law enforcement officials must make a serious and realistic attempt to outline a police role that is acceptable to all segments of society. Defining this role is important because Americans rate crime as a significant problem in their communities and because victimization studies indicate the number of offenses committed far exceeds the number of crimes reported to the police. An analysis of actual police performance shows that law enforcement is only one facet of police work. Police are responsible for protecting life and property, maintaining the peace and public order, controlling and preventing crime and vice, regulating traffic, detecting and arresting law violators, safeguarding individual rights, resolving conflicts, creating and maintaining a feeling of security in the community, and providing emergency and other services. Values in policing must represent the highest ideals and norms of the police profession and be compatible with values expressed by the community. A key element of community policing is an emphasis on problem-solving. Problem-solving is a strategy that consists of four parts: scanning, analysis, response, and assessment. Such a strategy involves viewing incidents from a community perspective and evaluating why citizens request police services. Benefits of community policing include greater citizen support of the police, shared responsibility for crime prevention, greater police job satisfaction, better internal relationships in law enforcement agencies, and support for organizational change in police departments. Operational and managerial approaches of the Houston Police Department are described. 26 references, 3 tables, and 4 figures