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Small Departments and Community Policing

NCJ Number
139927
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 61 Issue: 12 Dated: (December 1992) Pages: 1-5
Author(s)
J F Cox
Date Published
1992
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This discussion addresses community policing philosophy and its potential effect on small departments, police administrators, and communities as well as the internal changes needed to implement the concept.
Abstract
A smooth transition to the community policing concept calls for certain concrete changes on the part of officials. These changes include redefining the department's role, training officers, adopting a new approach to employee evaluation, assigning specific patrol areas, prioritizing police calls, and tailoring police work to community needs. Administrators also should carefully consider a "critical issues" checklist before making a public move toward community policing, namely: ensure strong administrative leadership, make the change toward community policing policy gradual, draft a clear mission statement, and assess the community's needs. 7 footnotes