Why We Need Community Policing

Community policing is about working with the community, earning their trust and respect, and solving problems rather than simply making arrests (Edge 79). In the United States, between the years 2006 and 2010, a staggering 52% of violent crimes went unreported (U.S. Department of Justice 2012). This percentage is equal to approximately 3,380,000 unreported crimes (U.S. Department of Justice 2012). Therefore, it is important for citizens to be able to trust and respect police officers. If they do not, citizens will be more hesitant in reporting crimes. Unreported crimes allow for criminals to continue their activities. Law enforcement can aid in crime prevention by implementing foot patrols in problem regions, forming relationships with the
community, and creating a diverse group of officers.
While the new and improved police vehicles are undoubtedly helpful to officers, foot patrol allows them the opportunity to see and hear things they would not be able to from their patrol cars (Cole).
It also gives police a chance to interact with the community. Learning who people are and how they act can give officers certain advantages in a particular situation. In addition to patrolling busy vicinities, such as downtown areas, shops, and markets, police can check on apartment complexes, public pools and parks, as well as known problem spots and street corners. While the monitoring of a sidewalk known for drug sales will not necessarily stop drug dealers or buyers, it will certainly deter them from meeting in the area. Foot patrolling helps reduce the fear of crime felt by the public and typically works best in cities rather than rural
environments.
Forming a bond with the community is a key attribute in successful community policing. Community events are one way for law enforcement to interact with the public. Police departments may hold holiday events such as “Trunk or Treating” in effort to provide a safe environment for parents to bring their children on Halloween night. Another way to establish a relationship with the community is by reaching out to schools and educating the next generation on what they can do to help prevent crime. Law enforcement officers can teach young children what a police officer’s role is, what to do in case of an emergency, and what situations they should avoid. While community policing helps to break down barriers between citizens and law enforcement, it must be a continuous effort in order to be successful.
Although the majority of law enforcement officers are white males, women and men of other races play key roles in creating a department that the community feels is fair and will help best represent them. Research has shown that female law enforcement officers are less likely to use force, especially deadly force, and are less likely to cause an already tense situation to escalate. Women also tend to have greater success in certain areas of law enforcement than their male colleagues such as domestic violence and rape cases. Alleviating racial tension in the community and reducing the frequency of racial bias complaints regarding officers can be achieved by increasing the percentage of minority officers employed in the department.
One additional method used by law enforcement agencies to help prevent crime is Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design, also known as CPTED (Zahm 1).
CPTED is designing a community in a way that will naturally deter crime. Examples of CPTED that can be done include providing street lamps in areas of frequent criminal activity due to poor lighting and trading high fences and shrubbery for lower ones, allowing buildings to be easily seen by the public. Inserting security desks on the main floors of large office buildings, installing deadbolts and security systems, and clearing windows of signs or posters are three ways to help prevent businesses from crime. Law enforcement officers can learn what needs to be done by citizens and from officers while on foot patrol throughout the
area.
Although violent crime in the United States has decreased 12.2% in the past ten years, the United States is still behind other countries (Bain, Robinson, and Conser 272). England and Wales reported a 13% decrease in violent crime after only five years (Bain, Robinson, and Conser 272). Crime prevention units and community-oriented policing strategies are being implemented in departments and agencies across the United States in a hope to discourage criminal activities. Encouraging officers to form relationships with the community, prioritizing problem solving, taking care of trouble areas, and reducing the public’s fear of crime in an efficient and professional manner are important tasks for law enforcement departments looking to create crime prevention ideals (Edge 79).