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Introduction
Although the U.S Federal government spends billions of dollars towards crime reduction policy initiatives, incidence rate of crimes such as homicides, burglary, smuggling, and gang violence is on the rise in the country. With the 9/11 terror attacks, the United States has become a major target for terrorist groups worldwide. In addition, the strong diplomatic stance taken by the Federal government against Islamic State (IS) terrorists also makes the country vulnerable to organized terror attacks. In this context, traditional policing may not be much effective to take proactive measures aimed at ensuring the safety of American society. Evidences suggest that a relatively new concept called community policing is really promising to prevent crimes effectively and to minimize harms to the American society as a whole. This paper will explore the principles and strategies of community policing.
Principles of Community Policing
Kappeler and Gaines describe ten principles of community policing that form the basis of this modern policing concept. The first principle is that “community policing is both a philosophy and an organizational strategy” that creates a close working relationship between police and community residents in relation to exploring new ways of addressing the problems of crime and improving neighborhood conditions (Kappeler and Gaines 535). The key notion behind this principle is that people in the community have the right to set the police agenda. The second principle states that everyone in the community policing department, including civilians and police personnel, should take collaborative efforts to explore potential ways to translate the philosophy into practice. It implies that everyone in the department should understand the importance of solving community problems by developing creative strategies. Kappeler and Gaines also indicate that such a shift in the department would provide greater autonomy to line officers and therefore their judgment will be respected greatly.
The third principle is to develop an efficient community police officer whose duty is to act as the direct link between the police institution and the community members. In order to perform their tasks efficiently, community police officers should be free from the demands of traditional policing. In other words, community police officers should be able to maintain a personal contact with people in the area they are obliged to serve. Fourth, the community policing requires a long-term contact with community members so that they would be influenced to play the role of unpaid volunteers with regards to developing creative ways to address local concerns. The community police personnel go beyond the narrow focus of traditional policing so as to respond to calls for service immediately and to improve the overall quality of life in the community over time.
The fifth principle states that community policing is a new contract between the police and community members that provides a ‘hope of overcoming widespread apathy’ (Kappeler and Gaines, 536). Referring to this contract that is based on mutual trust, police play a crucial role in encouraging people to assume their share of the responsibility with regard to solving community problems as well as improving overall quality of life in the community. Sixth, the community policing adds a proactive element to the concept of traditional policing with intent to minimize the harms of a crime to the community. In addition, community policing expands traditional policing roles so that it can more actively and quickly respond to immediate cries and crime incidents and thereby make communities safer. The seventh principle says that community policing specifically emphasizes on the need to explore creative ways of protecting the lives of vulnerable groups in the community such as juveniles, minorities, disabled, and homeless. It also adds that police and people should work closely in such a way to establish a greater level of mutual respect and accountability.
The eighth principle reflects that community policing can significantly enhance the judicious use of technology. However, it adds that no technology can surpass the efforts of a group of dedicated humans working for the accomplishment of shared goals. This principle asks to rely on the combined judgment of police and civilian volunteers as they are expected to work for the wellbeing of the community. The ninth principle states that community policing plays a notable role within the police department internally through facilitating the inflow and outflow of crucial information about the community. As stated already, community police officers play a crucial role in bridging the gap between police force and community members. The ninth principle specifically says that the community policing must be an integrated approach. Finally, the tenth principle is that “community policing provides decentralized, personalized police service to the community” (Kappeler and Gaines,.536).It identifies that police force cannot solve all problems of community from outside but people must consider police as a potential resource they can use to address current community concerns.
Strategies of Community Policing
There are a number of strategies for implementing the concept of community policing effectively. The major strategies include public education programs, neighborhood watch programs, neighborhood town meetings, storefront ministrations, and weed and seed programs. First, public education programs are developed as part of community policing so as to create a general awareness of the need to combine police personnel’s and community members’ efforts towards reduction of crimes in the society. This tactic will really assist the police department to gain public support and to broaden police resources. In addition, public education programs benefit the police department to enlighten public how to avoid the situation of being victimized or involved in a crime. Evidences suggest that this strategy of community policing helps the public recognize the significance of assisting police department in preventing and intervening crime situations.
Neighborhood watch is another strategy of community policing. As Palmiotto points out, in a neighborhood watch program, community members meet together in a local residence to share their concerns about local crime problems and to develop crime prevention strategies (94). They also discuss and develop an effective way to ‘watch’ the neighborhood and to report crimes. In the initial phase, neighborhood watch meetings are generally organized by crime prevention officers from a police department or community organization. In the subsequent meetings, ‘property target hardening and the establishment of phone trees for surveillance’ will be discussed and implemented (Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services). Here, community members have an extensive exposure to expressing their concerns and ideas.
Similarly, neighborhood town meeting is another community policing strategy that gives particular emphasis to developing and maintaining a close working relationship between the police and the public (“Community policing”). In contrast to neighborhood watch meetings that are organized in a local residence, neighborhood town meetings are convened in open public spaces like schools or community halls and are increasingly publicized to obtain the greatest possible attendance. These meetings provide participants a common platform for exchanging information and a common venue for identifying and interpreting crime issues within the community. In addition, neighborhood town meetings can also aid the police department to obtain strong public support.
Likewise, establishing storefront mainstations is a key community policing strategy that focuses particularly on the decentralization of policing activities. Through this approach, the police department also attempts to bring police services closer to the communities they serve. Generally, mainstations are established in easily accessible areas and they are staffed by a mix of armed police officers, unpaid volunteers, and paid civilians (Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services). Mainstations also act as major venue for police officials to share vital crime information and control tips with the public.
According to Kappeler and Gaines, there are two fundamental strategies such as piecemeal and comprehensive strategies for implementing community policing effectively. Under the comprehensive model, the concepts and techniques of community policing is introduced throughout the department (192). In contrast, under the piecemeal model, community policing concepts and techniques are introduced to specialized unit assigned with the responsibility of promoting community policing throughout the community or a geographical area where traditional police is to be replaced (Kappeler and Gaines 192).When the idea of geographical implementation is followed, it is assumed that community policing will be implemented throughout the community eventually. Large departments commonly follow the piecemeal approach whereas smaller agencies adopt the comprehensive approach. Large complex police departments often find it difficult to shift to community policing quickly, and hence, they commonly adopt the incremental approach.
Conclusion
Works Cited
“Community policing”. Dewitt Police Department. Web http://www.townofdewittpolice.com/Community_Policing.html [accessed 4 June 2016].
Kappeler, Victor E and Gaines, Larry K. Community Policing: A Contemporary Perspective. US: Routledge, 2011. Print.
Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services. “Review of the Roots of Youth Violence: Literature Reviews”. Web. http://www.children.gov.on.ca/htdocs/English/topics/youthandthelaw/roots/volume5/preventing03_community_polcing.aspx [accessed 4 June 2016].
Palmiotto, Michael. Community Policing: A Policing Strategy for the 21st Century. US: Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2000. Print.
