What is community policing? How does it differ from traditional policing? Does community policing offer an opportunity to improve policing services in the United States?

Why or why not?

Answer:

Community policing focuses on a collaborative effort between the police and all elements of the community to identify problems and solutions regarding police response to crime and disorder. There are many ways that community policing differs from traditional policing. First, community policing agencies are willing to work with the public and other community agencies to solve problems. In contrast, the relationship between citizens or community agencies and the police may be in conflict in traditional policing. Second, community policing focuses on solving problems; traditional policing focuses on solving crimes. Third, community policing focuses on all types of problems, even minor incidents, and traditional policing tends to consider non-crime related calls for service as low-priority items. Finally, community policing is accountable to the community, but traditional policing is accountable to the law. Community policing certainly has the potential to improve policing services in the United States, but police organizations are very resistant to change. The philosophy that underlies community policing is promising. Police agencies should work with the community and community agencies, coordinating priorities and sharing responsibilities for community safety. If a department fully commits to community policing and the community commits to the collaboration, policing services would certainly improve.