Essay about Community Policing

Submitted By RobThom26
Words: 741
Pages: 3

Community Policing

Abstract
Community policing is a police strategy implemented into Law Enforcement to create a better relationship between the police and the community. Community policing is defined as “a collaborative effort between the police and the community that identifies problems of crime and disorder and involves all elements of the community in the search for solutions to these problems”. This theory on the belief that people deserve to input there comments and concerns into the police process, and in exchange officers would participate and support their ideas. It also brings about that the answers to today's community problems demand freeing both the people and the police to explore creative, new ways to address neighborhoods and communities. While traditional methods of policing tend to fall short and provide the desired levels of crime control in the public’s eyes, police departments across the nation and around the world search for new and innovative ways to provide law enforcement services to their communities.

In recent years, community-oriented policing has come to the forefront of law enforcement as the method of choice for many law enforcement agencies. As part of the conversion from traditional policing methods to community-orientated policing, agencies have become more reliant on new police officers better suited for performing proactive, citizen-oriented policing functions in their communities. Traditional policing focuses on reducing crime by arresting the bad guys. This requires relying on rapid response which makes it almost impossible for the police to avoid being strangers to the community. Community policing brings police and citizens together to prevent crime and solve neighborhood problems.
With community policing, the emphasis is on stopping crime before it happens, not responding to calls for service after the crime occurs. Community policing gives citizens more control over the quality of life in their community. Community policing means police become part of the neighborhood. This helps police get a better sense of resident's needs and helps residents to develop greater trust in the police. So in a sense if you will the community joins the police department. Those "who believe that community policing is practiced in their neighborhood are more likely to express favorable opinions of the police.
Together, in partnership, the community and police department work together to achieve a common goal of a safer, better place to live. Community policing plays a pivotal role in the two defining elements of policing: police-community relations and problem-solving. Community policing is seen as an effective way to promote public safety and to enhance the quality of life in a community.
Policing is a role performed by various professionals and common people in the community. It is a practice put in place to maintain social order in the society.
Policing is ways to control crime in the community. In the 1960’s there were concerns about rising crime rates and the civil rights movement. The country was demanding improved community police relations; education for officers; controls on discrimination. There are