This motivated police departments to initiate the zero-tolerance policy, which encouraged the use of aggressive police tactics on minor crimes (Sheppard, 2002). When compared to the "broken windows" theory, the zero-tolerance policy ironically has the same effect. However, the tactics are entirely different. Community policing encourages a partnership with citizens to require less use of arrest, and more creative responses to certain minor problems. Meanwhile zero-tolerance policies require frequent arrest and militarized tactics that ultimately causes civil unrest. That is why community policing is the considered to be the best way to eliminate the constant growth of minor crimes and it also allows law enforcement officials to accomplish their mission statements and provide the community an opportunity to become better connected with surrounding departments (Tillman 1).
As community relations became idle, important leaders in the law enforcement field and in the community realized there was still a problem in cities around the United States. Trust that connects police departments and communities needed to be reinforced into these cities. Minor crimes were at an all-time high and zero-tolerance policies only sparked an outrage amongst younger citizens, which prompted a resistance towards law enforcement …show more content…
Community policing is a program cities have continuously supported. When law enforcement officers interact in a positive manner with the citizens, it helps to create a sense of trust. If police officers create opportunities to meet people on a friendly level, it may change their negative points of view. For example, having “coffee-with-a-cop” sessions or holding a “car-seat check” station for new parents, and going out of their way to help indigent people, are all ways of presenting a human side to the police.
The greatest obstacle in implementing community policing can be directly related to the refusal to implement change. People do not like change because it can be uncomfortable. There can be many obstacles during the implementation phase, such as unrealistic expectations, resistance to involving the community and from the community as well. It can be a challenge to incorporate community friendly programs, especially when police officers are viewed as the enemy. The community members can feel as if they are being targeted by having so many police officers getting involved with their particular