Community Policing - Research Paper Example

?Running Head: COMMUNITY POLICING Community Policing Community Policing Introduction Within the broad field of public administration, there is a need for administrators to understand how to better function in the public sector. Where service-oriented work is the watchword, and no visible product is offered as a measure of successful productivity, it becomes incumbent upon the administrator to make a concerted effort to evaluate service and citizen impact on that service. This seems to be a good fit with the reinventing government concept of the 1990s where there was a greater emphasis on customer service by public administrators to treat the customer right (Bach, 2009). In the field of law enforcement, it is imperative that successful administrators make every effort to foster a cooperative liaison with the (customer) citizenry. Citizen cooperation will nourish the police-community alliance. Needs can be identified, and efforts to meet those needs can be addressed by citizens and police administrators alike. This attitude of cooperative appraisal of needs fits well into the model of community policing (Tilley, 2010). Community Policing Police roles that grew out of the reform era (patrol services, rapid response to calls, etc.) may sometimes lead to roadblocks. These more traditional police practices sometimes encounter a public paradox (Radelet & Carter, 1994). The paradox states that crime control functions collide with due process ideals, in that citizens recognize the need for a social contract (a need for police) that occasionally can run counter to the basic freedom that they seek. So, this conflict (or paradox) between the need for police and the desire for the protection of due process can remain between police and the public (Radelet & Carter, 1994). The winds of change are moving through the hallways of many police organizations in America. For some, these winds are like a summer breeze that opens the door to new possibilities. For others, they signal the onset of a cold, uncertain winter. Regardless of how one experiences it, something is happening, and this "something" is an attempt to rethink and restructure the role of police in society (Rosenbaum in Bordeur, 1998 p.1). Inability of existing police infrastructures to cope with greater than ever complexities of our fast changing society and increasing demands on police by their rapidly growing constituencies forces police organizations to look for new ways to serve their communities (Tilley, 2010). Increased bureaucratization and over- specialization of police forces and separation from the community amplifies the need for implementing a community-driven police force. Police organizations face increased costs and pressure from the community and interest groups to do more with fewer resources. As a consequence, police administrators are forced to cut some services in order to address priority needs (Tilley, 2010). Reduction and elimination of police services due to budget cuts and increasing operational costs creates community discontent. A new cost efficient approach to prevent and deal with crime is needed in order to cover eliminated services. Community Oriented policing is recognized as a viable solution to reducing crime and efficiently solving community problems (Chacko & Nancoo, 1993). Murphy labels proactive policing as the dominant ideology and organization mode of progressive policing (Murphy, in Chacko & Nancoo, 1993, p. 1). Community policing philosophy and research suggests traditional bureaucratic, crime-attack policing has failed. The police have lost their community context and this loss inhibits the police in their order maintenance and crime control functions (Tilley, 2010). Critics of traditional policing argue, police are mystifying their role and manipulating public expectation. Reactive policing "promotes poor policing management, leading to the issuance of more traffic tickets, the growth of an unofficial quota system, and 'fudging' of crime statistics" (Thibault, Lynch, & McBride 1985, p. 50). Supporters of community policing recognize proactive policing as progressive police work that could serve the community better while preventing and deterring crime. Critics of community policing are skeptical about this new approach to policing. Despite its detractors, many supporters of community oriented policing have given it much credit and are confident of its value and application (Thibault, Lynch, & McBride 1985). Trojanowicz wrote extensively on the merits of a community-based police force. He defines community policing as "a philosophy of full service, personalized policing where the same officer patrols and works in the same area on a permanent basis, from a decentralized place, working in a proactive partnership with citizens to identify and solve problems" (Trojanowicz & Carter 1988). Trojanowicz's definition of community policing identifies fundamental differences between traditional reactive police organizations and operations and the new proactive approach he proposes. "Full service", Trojanowicz argues, requires the involvement of the entire police force from top administrators, chiefs and regulators to street officers and civilian personnel in the implementation and delivery of community oriented police services. Trojanowicz argues, while a police department may begin community policing as a partial program success depends upon the acceptance and transformation of the whole organization (Trojanowicz & Carter 1988). Trojanowicz suggests community police officers must work in proactive partnership with citizens to identify and solve problems (Trojanowicz & Carter, 1988). The idea of a partnership between the police and the community is novel for police organizations that have been historically notorious for their secrecy and separation from the community (Tilley, 2010). According to Trojanowicz & Carter (1988) there is no substitute to community involvement when it comes to preventing and solving crime. Trojanowicz & Carter (1988) stress the importance of putting a human face to police patrols and replacing driving by the community with walking through the community. They emphasizes the creation of "proactive partnerships" (Trojanowicz & Carter, 1988) and focus on problem solving within the community. Trojanowicz & Carter (1988) state, immediate benefits from positive police-community interactions would be numerous and among those benefits he identifies an increased quality of life, a decreased fear of crime, an increased level of identification of causation and prevention of crime (Trojanowicz & Carter, 1988). Greene (1993) views proactive policing as a program of cooperation to solve crime problems in the community. Miller and Hess (1994) define community policing as a philosophy that emphasizes working proactively with citizens to solve crime related problems and prevent crime (Miller & Hess, 1994). The commonly agreed upon philosophy describes community policing as a proactive approach to police work based on a solid partnership between the police and community to cooperatively find solutions for community concerns. According to Trojanowicz & Carter community policing is born out of the recognition that the police do not have the necessary resources or methods to single-handedly reduce crime (Trojanowicz & Carter, 1988). Through a stronger partnership between police and citizens, community policing aims to develop responsibility sharing. The aim of community policing is that crime will no longer be the sole responsibility of the police; instead it will become the direct responsibility and concern of the whole community. Through community policing the accountability of police officers to the community is increased, and the community's accountability to the police is increased as well. The increase in accountability by both parties will have as an end result a more accountable and involved police force, and a more responsible, receptive and cooperative community. Conclusion From its beginnings policing has been shrouded in mystery, controversy, conflict political influence and patronage. The philosophy of community policing is rapidly spreading in popularity across the United States. Community policing is being viewed by many as a necessary fundamental change in the police approach toward the community. It might even be seen as a democratizing change in that it stresses empowering the police and the community to achieve a more co-productive approach to problem solving. References Bach, S. (2009) Human Resource Management in the Public Sector. The Sage Handbook of Human Resource Management. Sage Publications. Chacko, J., & Nancoo, S. E. (1993). Community Policing in Canada. Toronto, ON: Canadian Scholars' Press Inc. Greene, H. (1993). Community-Oriented Policing in Florida. American Journal of Police, 12(3). 141-155 Miller, L., & Hess, K., (1994). Community Policing: Theory and Practice. Minneapolis, MN: West Publishing Co. Radelet, L. A., & Carter, D. L. (1994). The police and the community. New York: Macmillan College Publishing. Rosenbaum, D. P. (1998). The Changing Role of Police; Assessing the Current Transition to Community Policing. in Brodeur, P., (Eds.), How to Recognize Good Policing; Problems and Issues. (pp. 3-29). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. Thibault, E. A., Lynch, L. M., & McBride, R. B. (1985). Proactive police management. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall. Tilley, Nick. (2010). Neighborhood Watch Programs. Encyclopedia of Victimology and Crime Prevention. Sage Publications. Trojanowicz, R., and Carter, D. (1988). The Philosophy and Role of Community Policing. East Lansing, MI: National Neighborhood Foot Patrol Center, Read More