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Police - C.O.P. (Community Oriented Policing)
Community Policing requires a department-wide commitment from civilian and
sworn personnel. Department members are challenged to find ways to express
this new philosophy in their jobs. They must explore new proactive initiatives
aimed at solving problems before they occur or escalate.
The philosophy of community policing rests on the belief that contemporary
challenges require the police to provide full-service, proactive and reactive
responses. This also requires the community directly act as a partner in
the process of identifying, prioritizing and solving problems including
crime, fear of crime, drugs, and neighborhood decay.
Community Policing is not public relations. Of course, improved relations
with the community is a welcomed by-product of delivering this new form
of personalized service. It is not however, the primary goal.
Community policing is not “soft” on crime. Community policing officers answer
calls and make arrests just as before. But, they involve the community in
short-term and long-term proactive initiatives designed to reduce problems
in the future.
Community policing is not a “quick fix” or panacea. While creative, community-based
problem solving can yield immediate successes, community policing also invests
in longer term strategies designed to solve problems and improve the quality
of life over time. This is especially applicable through its emphasis on
positive interventions with juveniles. The full extent of community policing’s
impact on the community may take years to become fully evident.
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