The Importance of Community Policing to Reduce Crime and Build a Personal Relationship Between Communities and the Police Departments

Abstract

The implementation of Community Policing was brought about to help reduce crime and develop a personal relationship between police departments and their communities. With crime growing out of control throughout the country and police resources being insufficient to completely control it, it is up to the public to step up and be proactive in order to maintain the balance between good and evil.

Order custom essay The Importance of Community Policing to Reduce Crime and Build a Personal Relationship Between Communities and the Police Departments with free plagiarism report

450+ experts on 30 subjects Starting from 3 hours delivery

Get Essay Help

Community Policing

Today’s average police department is well equipped with the latest gadgets and decently supplied with a good amount of officers. However, regardless of how well off the law enforcement agencies are they are vastly outnumbered by the amount of criminals out there. In order to help balance the odds and maintain control, police departments have had to implement different types of community based policing. Although, without the participation of community members, this would be a lost cause. It is up to everyone to keep us safe. It is no longer the sole responsibility of law enforcement agencies (Community Policing, 2013).

One type of community policing is the use of community officers. These officers can patrol in various areas in a more approachable manner, such as foot or bike patrol. This gives the officers and the community the opportunity to interact on a more personal level and get to know each other as well as showing that police presence is in the area (Gemme, G). Becoming more intimate with each other gives the community a safer feeling. However, in order for this to be effective, community members should be assisting officers as best they could. Since the officer cannot be in all places at once, it is up to the community to assist in investigations such as calling for assistance, giving reports and anything else that would help law enforcement crack down on crime. Having a community that is united with law enforcement helps to deter crime by showing that the community will not stand for criminal activity. School Resource Officers are also a type of community officer. They become the immediate contact for any school related problems and also provide and extra show of involvement with keeping communities safe. They work together with the school administration to help promote a zero tolerance atmosphere (Gemme, G).

Another use of community policing is through the use of neighborhood watches (Gemme, G). Having neighborhoods that are willing to patrol themselves helps law enforcement by becoming the eyes and ears of the police department. While protecting the neighborhood in an observe and report fashion, any crime that is taking place in that area can be immediately reported and an officer dispatched to help resolve the issue. Since there are many neighborhoods and not enough officers to patrol them all effectively, having a neighborhood watch is a great partnership between the community and their respective law enforcement agency.

In conclusion, community policing is a very important part of our lives. Through the use of community based officers, school Resource officers and the community working in neighborhood watches, we can help each other in producing a positive environment to discourage criminal behavior (Community Policing, 2013). It is imperative in today’s society that all members of the community work together to help lower the crime rate. Let the officers do their job but assist in any way that you can. Only working together can we strengthen our communities and the effectiveness of our law enforcement agencies (Community Policing, 2013). We must all do our part to make this country a safer place for us and future generations.

Resources

1. (Community Policing, 2013) Community Policing Binghamton University Retrieved from http://www2.binghamton.edu/Dolice/communitv-policing.html
2. (Gemme, G) The Worcester Police Department Community Policing Initiative The Worcester Police Department Retrieved from http://www.worcesterma.gov/uploads/95/d8/95d84a9843433fb9072fl3bllceb924
3. d/policing-initiative.pdf

Don't let plagiarism ruin your grade

Run a free check or have your essay done for you

Check my essay Hire Writer