Ellison distinguishes middle and upper-class neighborhood communities and suggests that middle-class neighborhoods are the most receptive to collaborative association with police agencies, while upper class neighborhoods tend to rally together in the immediate aftermath of specific criminal activity that affects the community, but are less likely to maintain a sustained community-police collaboration after the specific crime concern is resolved. Nolan refers indirectly to the same issue in characterizing different neighborhood community-police agency relationships as exhibiting elements of interdependence, dependence, and conflict. In Ellison's terminology, Nolan's interdependence corresponds to his characterization of homogeneous low-crime, middle class communities. Similarly, in Ellison's terminology, Nolan's dependence corresponds to his characterization of upper-class neighborhoods; finally Nolan's state of conflict corresponds to high-crime lower-class communities that are least receptive to community policing approaches according to both articles.
Conclusion:
Both articles describe some of the difficulties often encountered in implementing community policing strategy, although differing in their more specific focus: whereas
Ellison details the organizational and operational impediments to an effective transition of police agencies, Nolan focuses on the particulars pertaining to recognizing the inherent differences in community...
Whereas Nolan focuses exclusively on methods of identifying different types of neighborhoods and tailoring the application of community policing strategy appropriately, the Nolan article does not address issues of internal organizational obstacles within police agency or factors relating to individual officer compliance. Ellison analyzes, in great detail, the need for agencies to implement community policing as a long-term philosophy rather than a temporary experiment, and the individual factors underlying patrol officers' resistance to changes in operational procedures and tactical approaches to police work.
Ultimately, both authors value the proven benefits of community policing, provided that the prevailing community environment suggests that it is conducive to embracing its essential role in the cooperation necessary for the long-term viability and success of community-oriented policing philosophy.
References
Duff, H.W. Concerned Reliable Citizens' Program. Federal Bureau of Investigation Law Enforcement Journal. Vol. 75 No. 8 (Aug/06).
Nolan, J., Conti, N, McDevitt, J. Situational Policing. Federal Bureau of Investigation Law Enforcement Journal. Vol. 74 No. 11 (Nov/05).
Ellison, J. Community Policing: Implementation Issues. Federal Bureau of Investigation Law Enforcement Journal. Vol. 75 No. 4 (Apr/06).
