To Serve and Protect - Learning From Police History (From Public Interest on Crime and Punishment, P 265-281, 1984, Nathan Glazer, ed. - See NCJ-98984)

• NCJ Number: 98985
• Author(s): M H Moore; G L Kelling
• Date Published: 1984
• Length: 17 pages
• Sale Source: University Press of America
• Publication Type: Historical Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This review shows that police reforms have produced a modern, professionalized police force oriented toward fighting 'street' crime from patrol cars, that the police have not reduced targeted crimes, and that the police have become more remote from citizens.

Abstract

Research indicates that the deployment of modern police resources (squad cars, rapid-response teams, and the use of trained investigators) has its limits and that rapid responses to service calls do not dramatically increase the apprehension of criminals. Additionally, studies report that police investigators require major assistance from victims and witnesses to solve crimes. Police deployment and organization need to be reformed to facilitate increased police interaction and cooperation with citizens in controlling crime and promoting social order. Policing could possibly be structured along geographic lines, giving area commanders responsibility for all police operations in a given area. This would make police policymaking and operations more accessible to citizens. Deployment to encourage police citizen interaction might include foot patrol. Fifteen notes are provided.