Problem-Oriented Policing Essay

Problem-Orientated Policing originated in the late 1970’s when professionals sought out to improve the quality and effectiveness of policing. There are several issues within policing such as lack of efficiency, inconsistency, and ill-equipped leadership. Police have numerous duties ad task to fulfil; they deal with not only civil matters, but criminal offenses as well. However, it is important to assure that each job is being completed to the officer’s best ability to diffuse the situation while upholding the law. It is important to acknowledge that arrest and prosecution are not always counterproductive methods. Policing is more than temporarily removing crime, it is also about unifying and maintaining the community. The approach of Problem-Orientated Policing (POP) recognizes that crime is not the primary
The method is similar to a science experiment with chemicals. In order to change the outcome, you must first alter what measurements and ingredients are being put into the beakers. If officers ae continually responding to dispatch to the same area for similar crimes, it is evident that policing techniques should be revised to best identify the underlying problem. POP often requires community cooperation to collect additional information and in-depth investigation. Coz, McCamey, and Scarmella define Problem-Orientated Policing as the encouragement officers take by using a holistic approach, working with citizens and other agency representatives to find long-term solutions to a variety of recurrent problems. Within policing, I believe it is important to identity problems that continually surface within a community. The SARA model assists officers with not only identifying the issue but solving the problem as well. The SARA acronym stands for: Scanning (discovering reoccurring behaviors and crimes), analysis (answering questions that lead to the solution), response (development of an alternate solution to the