Twenty-First Century Policing: Community Policing--A Guide for Police Officers and Citizens

• NCJ Number: 214179
• Author(s): Sergeant Steven L. Rogers
• Date Published: 2002
• Length: 88 pages
• Sale Source: Looseleaf Law Publications, Inc
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Handbook
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This book presents a guide for police and citizens on building positive and productive working relationships within a community policing framework.

Abstract

Community policing offers a means for police and citizens to come together and work proactively to combat the Nation’s crime problems. Highly publicized events involving police misconduct or mishandled investigations have caused a major rift between the public and the police. The author begins this guide with advice to police managers to get out of the “ivory tower” and get to know police officers and citizens. Only through direct communication will managers come to understand the major issues facing their police officers and the major crime problems facing communities. Once these issues are understood, it is important to implement changes in policy and practice to address them. Dramatic and sweeping changes in all aspects of policing, from training to department management practices, are anticipated as community crime problems and police technology continues to evolve. The importance of addressing image problems is considered, particularly before departmental problems grow into global issues, and the two basic management failures--the failure to raise qualifications and standards and the use of a micro-management style are discussed. The implementation of total quality leadership and total quality management (TQL/TQM) into all management levels of a police organization is recommended as the most effective management tool employed by police agencies. The author offers a discussion on the implementation of community policing, which involves the reorganization of patrol operations and the adoption of a new policing ideology known as “Quality of Life Policing.” The author also addresses how community policing can enhance the relationship between the police and youth and can help build an understanding of cultural differences among police officers. Types of police-community partnerships are identified and the role of intelligence gathering and the place of the victim within a community policing framework are discussed. Chapter questions are offered to stimulate discussion. Index