Community Policing Paper

Community based policing is a form of policing that promotes organizational strategies, which support the systematic use of partnerships and problem solving techniques, to proactively address the immediate conditions that give rise to public safety issues, such as crime, social disorder, and fear of crime (Scheider, 2008). The preceding definition is certainly a mouthful, but in Layman’s terms it simply means: law enforcement and citizens working together toward a common goal. There are many ways of reaching those goals and not all of them may work, but through a cohesive and trusting bond, the police and the citizens can work out the problem of the community together. This form of policing does not look at race, culture, or sexual orientation, …show more content…
As we have seen of late there are some issues with trusting police officers. Community policing can help this aspect by allowing the officers to be out in the public gaining a better knowledge of the people while the people are able to do the same and get to know the police better. Take for instance policing in a Hispanic community. The officers being out there allows for them to better understand and educate themselves about the Hispanic cultures. As police and the community become more educated on one another, cultural differences are better understood. The police and the community members thus have a better understanding of one another and the partnership can grow and thrive (Venegas, 2002). This partnership leads to other items such as a lessened crime rate where calls for service and crime itself is reduced, there is a better feel of security in their neighborhood – not only for the community members, but for the police as well, there is better communication between police and the community, and allows for cultural awareness and cultural sensitivity. Based on what was mentioned above, community policing offers a trusting relationship between the police and the community, it offers a better understanding of the cultural differences and allows for cultural sensitivity, it offers a lessened crime rate through a lower call for service volume, and it offers a more secure form of security and safety both for …show more content…
If there is no form of trust then the crime rates would increase and people would not report crimes to the police. They may even go out and try to do things on their own without police assistance and make matters worse for themselves and for police when they do finally arrive. Community policing can build this trust through a positive interaction between the police and the community members. This can be done through simple things such as meetings or community gatherings at certain functions. The school district police in Brownsville, Texas for instance have a yearly even called the “Bike Rodeo”. This event allows for the community adults to come to a campus with their children and enjoy some free festivities. Some of the things offered are how to maintain a bicycle, how to ride a bicycle, bicycle safety tips, etc. While they are there, many giveaways take place. Bicycles and bicycle equipment are given away. All items are donated by local businesses and the community members are made aware of this. Activities like these show the community members that the police, and other community establishments, are there for them and not to be against them. A trusting relationship leads to a happier community, a happier community leads to lesser calls for service. Plus, the police being active in the community helps show that they are present, which also leads to a lessened crime rate because of sheer presence. Each item