Crimnology

Defining the “Community” in Community Policing

POLICE EXECUTIVE FORUM

RESEARCH

Defining the “Community” in Community Policing
By Daniel W. Flynn July 1998

This monograph is supported by grant #97-CK-WX-0029 awarded to the Community Policing Consortium by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). Points of view or opinions contained within this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice or the Community Policing Consortium.

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 WHAT IS A COMMUNITY? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 POLICE DEFINITION OF A COMMUNITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 REDEFINING THE COMMUNITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 NON-TRADITIONAL COMMUNITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 THE MAST PROJECT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 THE TRAP PROJECT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 THE SUPERBOWL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 CONCLUSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 REFERENCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

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Introduction hile the precise definition of community policing has been the matter of considerable debate, the fundamental methodology is simple. The police designate a community in which they will engage in problem solving, develop relationships (that hopefully become partnerships)

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