Community Policing and Its Application

Community Policing and Its Application

Wichita, KS

This was one of the first major U.S. cities to adopt the community policing philosophy. In 1989 the Wichita Police Department successfully used community policing to treat drug use, drug sales, and shooting and other violence within a particular criime infested neighborhood. The city currently operates a program that utilizes an anonymous 'Crime Stop' hot line to target narcotics violations within specific areas and neighborhoods.

Atlanta, GA

Atlanta currently uses various strategies such as foot patrol and bicycle patrol to promote the relationship between citizens and officers and to make the public more aware of its police presence. Atlanta's police force operates on the philosophy that public safety is the responsibility of the entire community, not just peace and police officers, and there is a strong movement of local business advocacy groups to raise money for community policing initiatives. This city's community policing strategies address issues related to fear of crime and public relations.

Chicago, IL

Chicago has implemented what is called the Chicago's Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS) Program to address issues related to fear of crime and public relations. CAPS utilizes monthly meetings between community residents and beat officers, which promotes the personalization of law enforcement and the concerns of the citizens. This program also relates to the issues of crime prevention as it utilizes an anonymous crime stoppers program that has shown to be statistically effective since its inception.

Seattle, WA

The Seattle Experiment used innovative community policing measures to target burglary and automobile theft. Seattle's Citywide Crime Prevention program utilized components of block watches, home security checks, and property identification to reduce property crime. Seattle also has an effective crime stoppers program that offers cash rewards for anonymous information leading to the prevention of a crime or the apprehension of a suspect in criminal activity.

New York City

New York City has typically been forced to take advantage of any innovative or highly publicized program in order to combat its high rate of both property crime and violent crime. One example of this is NYC 73rd Precinct's Clergy-Police program, which forms central committees of representatives from different denominations that focus on condemning gang violence and recruiting people who may be interested in professional police work. The focus of this program is at-risk juveniles and gangs. Several areas of NYC have taken advantage of citizens who are fed up with crime to form volunteer community citizen patrols such as Ministers of Islam. This initiative works well to address fear of crime, and the increased presence of vigilante groups is efficient at preventing property crime such as burglary and auto theft, and violent crime such as robbery.

1. COMSTAT - Complaint Statistics: a program where weekly community policing meeting are held throughout the city, precinct commanders and other police executives are rotated on a frequent basis, and immediate accountability is required. This would be helpful in addressing the issues of statistical manipulations and erroneous figures based on fraudulent reporting by police agencies. (pp. 157-158)