Law enforcement promote future progress in community safety by means of applying the concept of community policing. Police officers have always worked with members of society from time to time. Collaboration of regular citizens with police, has increased efforts to improve public neighborhood safety. However, the complex nature of today’s crime has forecasted a need to formalize the concept. This paper and discussion peruses the world of community officer policing, and gives an overview of the situation. The task herein involves coverage of three basic areas. The first section defines community officer policing, as well as gives several examples of what that role may look like – particularly in the context of the modern world. Secondly, pros and cons inform a better understanding of both the problems faced and positive outcomes involved. The third area to be covered reviews how community officer policing affects the community.
One single definition of community policing exists. Yet most law enforcement officers and personnel agree on its basic description. Joseph Schafer, Associate Professor at the ‘Center for the Study of Crime, Delinquency, and Corrections’ in Illinois has edited a publication entitled, “Policing 2020: Exploring the Future of Crime, Communities, and Policing.” In the book-length report Schafer explains “Whether one accepts the philosophy of ‘community policing’ (however defined) or not, policing is a people business. In spite of technological, cultural, and social change” it will remain so (56). The Discover Policing organization takes a different approach to defining community-based policing as a model in which “officers are empowered to identify and solve problems proactively,” while utilizing a plethora of “a unique blend of skills”(“What Is Community Policing?”). Discover Policing continues to explain the concept of community officer policing as a kind of partnership, in which a common engagement works towards mitigating problems, while integrating and “implementing” organizational features ”(“What Is Community Policing?”). You might think of the approach as the police officers recognizing that in fact, they are members of the community, thereby putting forward a ‘human face’ behind the badge.
A more formalized approach to the idea of community policing evolved from the 2012 recorded statement of Bernard K. Melekian, Director of Community Oriented Policing Services, given before a Federal Subcommittee. Melekian states that community policing, at its root, embraces “the intent to develop and implement strategies and processes that are fair, inspire public confidence, contribute to mutual trust and respect between police and citizens, and solve community problems” (2). As a foundational philosophy, community officer policing, will further emerge to undergo an organizational context. For example, new recruits will be educated to the idea, as well as their supervisors. Melekian informs, that all stakeholders will receive a kind of indoctrination to function under the philosophy. He adds that in 2013 a request for $15 million outlined a request for budget funds to operate the Community Policing Development (CPD) Program (4). Also, Schafer provides another very good example of what community officer policing is.
Schafer insists that community based policing draws a commonality between the people and law enforcement officers. Schafer describes its essence as a shared information situation in which there exists a level of transparency, despite the fact that policing obviously requires a level of secrecy in terms of what police work demands. Also Schafer emphasizes the factor of “privacy laws and, in some cases, union contracts also require that some information is confidential” (138). This understanding ushers in the need to obtain insight of some of the pros and cons to community officer policing.
In terms of organizational realities and cost benefits factors, budgets and spending are most certainly an issue. The funding of the program presented so logically before the United States Department of Justice Committee, by Director Melekian, reminds us that public safety issues “through community policing” signifies the use of tax dollars (4). He stated to the Committee that saving money intends to be a top priority, with an effort to employ grants and carefully monitor the funding because “risk assessment relies on 19 separate criteria, which are summed and averaged for on-site monitoring during the fiscal year” (5). Another key usage of funding goes towards responding to formal complaints from associations, labor groups, media, or the like. When complaints are lodged in written form, more expenses are involved. Some of the pros and cons of the aspects of costs alone, highlight budget concerns. Despite all this talk of Federal funding, Schafer highlights one of the cons in community officer policing as conflicts of interest, in terms of dealing with interactions of Homeland Security.
Schafer discusses this ‘con’ as an institutional challenge. Schafer states “community policing inevitably create a conflict for law enforcement executives and their agencies” since “competing demands for personnel and equipment resources” must be allocated and given priorities – as to ‘who’ gets ‘what’ (158). If you think about it this situation presents a tough decision, in terms of all agencies requirements for resources. Schafer proceeds to cite an example of the September 11, 2001 (9/11) incident during which time huge amounts of vast resources were poured out to fight terrorism. He deduces that agencies, at the end of the day, must coordinate and manage their activities together. In this scenario, information and communication will be particularly important.
One of the pros about community officer policing focuses upon the ability of law enforcement to adapt to an understanding of the community’s cultural make-up. For example, in Florida police develop greater experiential sensitivity to communicate with immigrant groups such as Haitians, Jamaicans, and Cubans. Obviously, officers with multi-linguistic ability can help to smooth out situations – particularly when conflicts arise. An example of other pros represented by community officer policing concerns positive media relationships. According to Discover Policing “police develop partnerships with local newspapers,” which can result in great bridge building efforts, showing police involvement in trying to improve neighborhood and public safety (“What Is Community Policing?”). Other pros of community based policing link communication partnerships with small businesses in the area, schools, and key people who represents the core of stakeholders. Large corporations may also develop positive and fruitful working relationships with their local law enforcement agencies. In this way, everyone feels that they belong and begin to take a responsible pride in contribution.
As noted therefore, community officer policing invents many facets of opportunities to connect with all different groups in the neighborhood locale. When this occurs police, and law enforcement officials at all levels become more closely connected to those people they serve. A good tight connection in community officer policing affects the community by creating an effective channel for communication, and a chance to remain interactive and informed. The results encourage a safer community for all people. At this point, a word on technology and its effects on community policing is very important.
Technology has intruded into the daily lives of every person globally. Social media also offers clues of how law enforcement might utilize its existence for the good, in terms of community policing. Dan Alexander, Chief of Police in Boca Raton, Florida discusses his viewpoint on how technology’s latest electronic tools are shaping how community policing functions. Alexander explains that the unofficial news, of an unusually heinous murder in an affluent section of town, went viral on MySpace (2007) involving “a double homicide of a mother and her daughter at an upscale mall” (“Using Technology to Take Community Policing to the Next Level”). Alexander’s concern with the myriad of social media nowadays such as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter is that negative and inaccurate information can spiral out of control. To re-direct the situation into a positive direction, Alexander relates that his department “hired a public relations firm” to coincide with social media usage, and to find out what the community members thought about the Boca Raton Police Department (BRPD)” (“Using Technology to Take Community Policing to the Next Level”). As it turns out, Alexander successfully navigated the establishment of several focus groups, comprising 40 community members, to present both “positive and negative feedback” (“Using Technology to Take Community Policing to the Next Level”). The strategy’s approach has motivated both law enforcement and community members to feel like they share in shaping future outcomes.
In conclusion, community officer policing outlines a fundamental principle and philosophy of community understanding and engagement. The relationship is a two-way street and coincides with best practices in law enforcement, while potentially increasing public safety in residential and commercial neighborhoods. Partnerships develop over time to strengthen trust, efficiency, and cooperation among all stakeholders in light of positive and negative factors.
Works Cited
Alexander, Dan. “Using Techniques to Take Community Policing to the Next Level.”
The Police Chief – The Professional Voice of Law Enforcement. International
Association of Chiefs of Police, Oct. 2014. 9 Oct. 2014.
“Policing 2020: Exploring the Future of Crime, Communities, and Policing.”
futuresworkinggroup.cos.ucf.edu The Futures Working Group, n.d. Web. 9 Oct. 2014.
“Statement For The Record Of Bernard K. Melekian Director Office Of Community Oriented
Policing Services Before The Subcommittee On Crime, Terrorism, And Homeland
Security Committee On The Judiciary United States House Of Representatives Regarding
Oversight Of The Office Of Community Oriented Policing Services.” justice.gov
The United States Department of Justice, n.d. Web.9 Oct. 2014.
“What Is Community Policing?”discoverpolicing.org Discover Policing, n.d. Web. 9 Oct. 2014.
