Community Policing Analysis Essay Example
Community Policing Analysis Essay Example

Community Policing Analysis Essay Example

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  • Pages: 11 (2827 words)
  • Published: July 2, 2018
  • Type: Analysis
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The preparedness and response to terrorist events are significant responsibilities that local police departments bear.

Community policing is a comprehensive strategy that law enforcement agencies can use to effectively handle the aftermath of terrorist acts and the resulting public fear. It consists of three interconnected components: organizational transformation, problem-solving approaches, and collaborations with external entities. These elements are essential not only in fighting terrorism but also in addressing concerns. Since the September 11 attacks, there has been a substantial increase in the federal government's emphasis on preventing and responding to terrorism. However, local authorities have a vital role in managing these risks and easing citizens' anxieties.

The local police departments in the United States are actively working to address concerns about future terrorist attacks and implement preventive strategies. They are evaluating public security

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procedures and practices to maximize their resources, while community policing plays a crucial role in preparing law enforcement for potential acts of terrorism and addressing fear resulting from such incidents. This approach aims to broaden the scope and diversity of police functions compared to traditional policing models.

Law enforcement agencies in the United States have widely adopted community policing, a strategy that focuses on organizational change, active problem-solving, and external partnerships to address issues affecting both police and citizens. Evidence of this adoption was found in a 2001 study conducted in the U.S.

According to a report by the Department of Justice, the proportion of departments with community police personnel increased significantly from 34% to 64% between 1997 and 1999. During that same period, the number of community policing officers also saw significant growth, rising from 21,000 to 113,000. However, it is worth noting that entitie

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such as law enforcement agencies in the United States may revert back to more traditional operational approaches following traumatic incidents like September 11th.

Some police departments may have dismissed community policing efforts due to more urgent security concerns. However, community policing is well-suited to play a key role in local law enforcement's response to terrorism. It emphasizes crime control, order maintenance, and service provision equally while promoting collaboration between the police, citizens, and other government agencies for an improved quality of life. This approach shifts away from reactive responses to service calls and instead focuses on proactive problem-solving related to the root causes of crime and disorder, fostering partnerships between the police and the community.

Community policing is a philosophy that focuses on crime and social disorder within police services. It incorporates conventional law enforcement, prevention strategies, problem-solving approaches, and partnerships. This approach differs from reactive policing and emphasizes crime prevention. It requires collaboration between police officers and citizens to identify and address the underlying causes of crime and disorder.

Community policing can be divided into three key elements: organizational change, problem solving, and external partnerships. For community policing to be effectively implemented, it is crucial that it is adopted throughout the entire organization. This adoption should be evident in various aspects such as department participation, the organization's mission, goals, objectives, performance evaluations, hiring and promotion practices, training, and overall organizational culture and activities. A significant aspect of organizational change in relation to community policing involves a move away from hierarchical structures. Community policing departments often have a more flattened organizational structure which allows decision-making authority to be decentralized and accountability to be held at lower levels. Another

important aspect of organizational change is having fixed geographic responsibility included.

Officers or deputies are allocated to specific geographic areas for extended periods, taking into consideration social and cultural factors. The aim of this approach is to enhance communication with residents, comprehend community issues, prevent problems, and respond efficiently. It also fosters accountability to the citizens in that area.

Community policing departments actively tackle the root causes contributing to crime or disorder in order to prevent future problems. They analyze and identify issues, devising customized strategies utilizing both conventional and unconventional methods. These strategies strive to discourage offenders, safeguard potential victims, and establish environments less conducive to criminal activity.

To acquire a deeper understanding of problems, departments should utilize various pertinent traditional and nontraditional data sources. Collaborating with the community and other organizations is vital in developing effective long-term solutions. The problem-solving process often follows a model referred to as "scanning, analysis, response, and assessment."

The process for addressing crime problems in 8 Departments involves the identification of relevant or perceived problems, analysis of the underlying conditions, implementation of interventions, and evaluation of effectiveness. This process includes continual feedback among the components. For example, agencies may redefine problems through in-depth analysis, returning to the initial identification phase. Additionally, assessments may reveal the need for further analysis if a response is deemed ineffective. Under a community policing philosophy, departments collaborate with government, social service, and community agencies to address persistent problems. These external partnerships utilize the unique strengths, tools, and expertise of other agencies.

The police, along with other government agencies, are responsible for responding to community problems in community policing. It is important for them to coordinate with other agencies

and develop effective solutions. They are also encouraged to form partnerships with civic and community groups to assess community needs, use public resources for problem solving, and implement interventions. Additionally, a flat organizational structure may enhance terrorism prevention and response.

Local law enforcement officers are shown to encounter individuals linked to terrorism and are likely to be the initial responders to future attacks. Granting decision-making power to lower-level officers and familiarizing them with making critical judgments could prove beneficial in crisis situations. During a terrorist incident, there may not be sufficient time for decisions to be escalated up the hierarchy. Officers who are accustomed to making and assuming responsibility for decisions may be better equipped to promptly and resolutely respond to such events.

Additionally, fostering a flat organizational structure can contribute to the prevention of terrorism by empowering lower-level officers to actively pursue leads and suspected terrorist activities. Furthermore, assigning fixed geographic responsibilities to officers can aid in the identification of potential terrorist threats. Officers who work within a specific community or neighborhood for an extended period can gather valuable intelligence regarding the behaviors and activities of residents and the community as a whole. This firsthand knowledge plays a crucial role in counter-intelligence efforts. Moreover, problem-solving models are highly effective in both preventing and responding to terrorist activity. Law enforcement departments can utilize existing data sources proactively to develop comprehensive risk management and crisis plans.

Identifying potential terrorist targets in local jurisdictions is an important initial step. Police can determine which elements within their jurisdictions, such as dams, electric grids, chemical warehouses, and large-scale public gatherings, might be attractive to terrorists. Community policing promotes thorough analyses of potential

threats and their likelihood of occurring. Additionally, agencies can collaborate with other government entities, social organizations, and community groups to devise comprehensive plans for crisis prevention and response. The community policing model emphasizes the continuous adaptation of these plans to accommodate evolving conditions and levels of threat. Collaborating with citizens, other government organizations, and law enforcement agencies offers a unique opportunity to establish external partnerships in order to address the terrorism threat.

The presence of terrorist targets and threats often diminishes previous indifference towards these partnerships. Many communities have experienced unease and urgency due to recent terrorist events and related concerns. The opportunity to foster collaborations between local police, communities, other law enforcement agencies, and local, state, and federal entities has emerged due to the potential for additional terrorist activity. The community policing model promotes the formation of continuous and successful partnerships, providing enhanced opportunities for gathering and sharing intelligence, therefore, assisting in the prevention of terrorist activity.

Community policing plays a crucial role in addressing both terrorist incidents and the creation of coordinated crisis plans and processes. This necessitates taking into account the interests and worries of all community stakeholders, with the aim of fostering partnerships between law enforcement, local government, and community partners. Through collaboration, they can adequately equip themselves to handle crises stemming from terrorism, effectively responding to and recovering from them. Terrorism's principal objective is to generate fear and uncertainty that extends beyond its direct victims, thereby impacting individuals' overall quality of life.

The fear of crime is an increasing worry for the police in the United States as they adopt community policing strategies. This tactic entails dealing with quality of life issues and

forging alliances with citizens, which now encompasses acknowledging the duty to alleviate fear of crime. According to A. Steven Dietz's article "Evaluating Community Policing," community policing programs have been connected to decreasing fear of crime since their introduction.

"Reducing fear of crime has become a crucial component and is openly acknowledged as a goal of community policing, demonstrating its ability to address concerns regarding fear resulting from terrorist acts. Simultaneously, it is essential for community policing to directly address citizen apprehension towards crime, as uncontrolled fears of terrorism (or desires for retribution) can manifest into hate crimes and unlawful prejudice, specifically targeting individuals of Muslim faith or Middle Eastern background. These are significant societal issues that law enforcement must be prepared to address and avert."

The implementation of community policing involves restructuring department processes and resources to move away from randomness and reactivity, and instead focus on information- and service-driven approaches within the community. One important aspect is assigning police officers to specific geographic areas, fostering communication with residents, and ensuring the safety of those areas. Other aspects of the agency are also realigned to support this primary focus. As a result, police officers become more aware of community concerns and can effectively respond by establishing relationships within the community.

Community policing has been proven effective in building trust and increasing satisfaction among residents with the police. This trust can be valuable during times of unrest in addressing both rational and irrational fears within the community. Additionally, it promotes a deeper understanding of fear that may arise from terrorist events.

In the community, the initial step involves determining if fear exists and to what extent. The police

can accomplish this through various means including citizen interviews, surveys, and face-to-face interactions. These methods help assess the levels of fear among citizens. Subsequently, the police can analyze the underlying conditions that contribute to or promote fear. For example, fear may be a result of specific terrorism-related concerns such as residing near a potential target. Alternatively, fear may revolve around loved ones living in high-risk areas. Lastly, there may be a more general sense of fear towards terrorism.

In order to develop effective responses, law enforcement should understand the extent and nature of fear in their community. If fear levels are highly exaggerated and negatively affecting quality of life, law enforcement should partner with other community groups to develop responses aimed at decreasing the fear. Community policing efforts to address citizen fear of crime include foot and vehicle patrols in high-crime neighborhoods, community meetings, citizen patrols, neighborhood cleanup programs, opening neighborhood substations, and citizen awareness campaigns. Although citizen fear of terrorist events is somewhat different than fear of crime generally, some of the same techniques can be useful for reducing this type of fear as well. For instance, citizen awareness campaigns can provide information about the preventive and preparedness measures taken by the local police and city government in case of possible terrorist events.

Discussing crisis response plans and general prevention activities can help citizens prepare for possible terrorist events. Informing citizens about what they can do, such as creating emergency survival kits and knowing evacuation routes, is important. Additionally, law enforcement agencies should assess fear-reduction efforts and update their responses accordingly. Building strong community partnerships can also help reduce citizen fear of terrorist events. These

partnerships can increase citizen effectiveness and bonds between neighbors, as well as involve citizens in prevention and preparedness activities. Encouraging citizen participation in neighborhood watch, youth education, and cleanup programs can further increase social cohesion and decrease fear of crime.

3 It is likely that these increasing feelings of efficacy in response to terrorist events may have similar effects. Citizens can be involved to varying extents in discussions about prevention and preparedness. Conclusion: Immediately following the events of 11 September 2001, local law enforcement agencies in the United States responded to disasters, experienced officer losses, were placed on different levels of alertness, provided a visible security presence at public events, collaborated with federal intelligence agencies, and investigated hate crimes at significantly higher rates and with a renewed urgency. Community policing provides law enforcement agencies with a comprehensive approach to carry out these numerous tasks. Since its inception, the success of community policing has relied on the relationships established between law enforcement and community members.

Collaborative partnerships, which often go by the name of relationships, have been utilized for a wide range of functions that are just as diverse as the communities that uphold them. These functions include resolving traffic issues, shutting down illegal drug operations, ensuring the safety of children in school and after-school programs, referring offenders to drug courts, and cleaning up abandoned properties. Taking action on these quality-of-life matters has allowed citizens to have a say in the public safety of their community and offered them an active method to confront crime and their fear of it. Throughout the past two decades, community policing has encouraged community members to join forces with law enforcement in

order to identify potential threats and foster an atmosphere of safety. Given its principles, community policing is excellently positioned to play a major part in both preventing and responding to acts of terrorism, as well as in endeavors to alleviate citizen fear. Rather than diminishing the focus on community policing efforts, police departments should acknowledge that community policing may be more crucial than ever in addressing terrorism within their communities.

Bibliography: Trevor Bennett, “Confidence in the Police as a Mediating Factor in the Fear of Crime,” International Review of Victimology, vol.

According to a study conducted by Lee P. Brown and Mary Ann Wycoff, titled "Policing Houston: Reducing Fear and Improving Service," which was published in Crime and Delinquency, volume 33, issue 3 in 1994, it was found that fear can be reduced and service can be improved through effective policing strategies.

1, 1987, pp. 71–89. Gary W. Cordner, “Community Policing: Elements and Effects,” in Roger G. Dunham and Geoffrey P.

Alpert (eds.), in their book Critical Issues in Policing (Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland Press, 1997), discuss the evaluation of community policing and its impact on quality police service and fear of crime. This topic is further explored by A. Steven Dietz in his article titled "Evaluating Community Policing: Quality Police Service and Fear of Crime" published in Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies and Management, vol. 20, no.

1, 1997, pp. 83–100. Herman Goldstein, Problem-Oriented Policing (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1990). Matthew J.

The text below is a citation from the Bureau of Justice Statistics Special Report titled "Community Policing in Local Police Departments, 1997 and 1999" by Hickman and Brian A. Reaves. It was published by

the Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice in 2001.

Michael S. Scott wrote a book called "Problem-Oriented Policing: Reflections on the First 20 Years" in 2000. The book was published by the U. S. Department of Justice, Office of Community-Oriented Policing Services in Washington, DC.

The text provides information about several books related to community policing. The first book mentioned is "Community Policing in a Community Era" written by Quint Thurman, Jihong Zhao, and Andrew Giacomazzi, published in Los Angeles by Roxbury Publishing in 2000. The second book mentioned is "Community Policing: A Contemporary Perspective" by Robert Trojanowicz and Bonnie Bucqueroux, published in Cincinnati, OH by Anderson Publishing in 1990. Lastly, the text references "Varieties of Police Behavior" by James Q. Wilson, published by Harvard University Press in 1968 and based in Cambridge, MA.

According to James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling, in their article "Broken Windows: The Police and Neighborhood Safety," which was published in the Atlantic Monthly in March 1982 (volume 249, no. 3, pp. 29–38), they discuss the relationship between the police and neighborhood safety.

References Click on an end note number to return to the article. 1. Matthew J. Hickman and Brian A. Reaves, “Community Policing in Local Police Departments, 1997 and 1999,” Bureau of Justice Statistics Special Report (Washington, DC: Office of Justice Programs, U.

S. Department of Justice, 2001).
2. Robert Trojanowicz and Bonnie Bucqueroux, Community Policing: A Contemporary Perspective (Cincinnati, OH: Anderson Publishing, 1990).
3. James Q.

Wilson, Varieties of Police Behavior (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1968). 4. Herman Goldstein, Problem-Oriented Policing (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1990). 5. Michael S.

Scott discusses Problem-Oriented Policing and reflects on the first 20 years in

his book "Problem-Oriented Policing: Reflections on the First 20 Years" (Washington, DC: U. S. Department of Justice, Office of Community-Oriented Policing Services, 2000). The book also mentions James Q. Wilson and George L.

Kelling discusses the article "Broken Windows: The Police and Neighborhood Safety" published in the Atlantic Monthly in March 1982. This article was written by Herman Goldstein and can be found in volume 249, issue 3, on pages 29-38.

8. Michael S. Scott. 9.

Steven Dietz conducted a study titled "Evaluating Community Policing: Quality Police Service and Fear of Crime."

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