Philosophy Of Community Policing

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Introduction
Throughout the history of policing it has been vital for police officers to have many skills that they are able to use so that they can successfully do their job. These skills can included being able to multitask, remain professional in heated situations and many more basic capabilities that may not come easily to civilians. But one skill that can easily go overlooked is an officer’s ability to go past solely interacting with suspects by also interacting with the everyday citizens who rely on the police for protection and problem solving. It can be vital for the police to build trust with the communities that they serve to improve relations, solve crimes and help prevent crimes from being committed in the future. These are some …show more content…

As crime rates began to soar in the 80’s it became evident that the police needed a new model to follow. Many Americans also felt that police departments around the country needed improvement and thus community policing began to be implemented. The public began to feel that they were not only susceptible to be victims of crime but also unruly behavior (Allender). The philosophy of community policing viewed officers as more than just a crime fighter but also a part of a social service with many different functions and goals. The new goals were to not only reduce crime but help eliminate it and increase the quality of life in many communities, including some that felt they had been overlooked or treated differently, such as different minority neighborhoods. Not only would officers do their typical day to day duties such as daily patrols and responding to 911 calls, but they would also use their discretion to help respond to social issues and other problems in the areas they patrol (Patterson). In community policing effectiveness of the police is not only measure by crime statistics and emergency response times, but also measurements of the partnerships and inclusions that they have built within the communities (Allen and Sawhney, …show more content…

One aspect that has seen both the advantages and the drawbacks of community policing, which is one of the most important aspects of the philosophy, is the views of the police held by the public. A study from Adams, Arcury and Rohe found that community oriented strategies deployed in the communities of Greensboro and Asheville, North Carolina yielded positive views from their respective communities. Roughly two-thirds of the population of Asheville had felt that safety from crime had increased under the new philosophy adopted by their police department, while about half of those from Greensboro had similar feelings (Adams, Arcury and Rohe,

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