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Community Policing

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Policing Paper
Community Policing
Jason Speece
University of Phoenix
AJS/502-Survey of Justice and Security
November 28, 2011

One of the most effective policing strategies used in law enforcement is community policing. Two experts in this strategy are Robert Trojanowicz and Bonnie Bucqueroux. They have done research and wrote many articles on the topic. Trojanowicz worked for Michigan State University and has recently passed away. Bucqueroux was a victim of domestic violence and has added ideas in this area for community policing. Over the years community policing has become an effective method used by law enforcement to better serve their communities. The concept is to develop a partnership between the police and the community. People in the community need to be able to have trust in the officers patrolling their streets. Community policing is geared at trying to find solutions to issues that may exist in the community. Police and members of the community need to work together to create a safe environment. In community policing the idea is for the police to develop a connection with people. Officers do not just drive around in their cars and never get out. In the community policing model the officers develop relationships with people, especially in specific areas they patrol. They talk to these people on a regular basis, try to get to know them on a personal level, and hope to gain their trust. Many people have a negative view about police officers they respond to them based on vivid impressions etched into their minds in the past (Bucqueroux). Community policing helps the community see the officers not only as the police but also as people. Police are not patrolling the streets looking for crime. They are traveling around the neighborhood to have a presence and to talk to members of the community. Community policing has a different view on crime investigation, especially in cases of domestic violence. In community policing officers are expected to analyze the factors that caused the problem rather than just react to the symptoms (Trojanowicz 1994). For example if the police are called to domestic violence case they do not just take the person who is being violent out of the house and move on. They try find out what caused the disturbance or bad behavior. If the husband was beating his wife because he drank a fifth of Jack Daniels the problem might not be the husband is violent but an alcoholic. The police will suggest the husband get help for his drinking problem. The officers will keep tabs on houses they are repeatedly being called to for problems. In this case the officers are looking for a solution to the problem not a temporary fix. The officers will also offer advice to the person being abused such as going to meeting with other people who are in abusive relationships. The police need to be careful because research confirms that women are at the greatest risk of being killed when they try to break away (Bucqueroux). Critics of community policing might say police do not always have time to analyze situations before they react. In emergency cases split decisions need to be made. If a person is pointing a gun at another officer and already killed somebody the situation may already be beyond the point of reason. Even in these cases the goal is to keep everyone alive in the person holding the gun; negotiation tactics would be used to calm the situation. However in cases involving less extreme circumstances police can use their judgment as whether to arrest someone. For example if a person is doing 55 mph in a 35 mph normally they would receive a ticket. In community policing the officer would ask why the person is speeding. The person’s response will be the deciding factor. If they are speeding because their spouse has just been rushed to the hospital they may not get the ticket. Of course they need to be on track to be going to the hospital. Community policing is an effective strategy of law enforcement can use to create a positive image within the community. Programs such as D.A.R.E help the community see officers as more than just people being paid to arrest people. It shows they are part of the community also. Law enforcement and communities need to work together to create safe and positive living environments for children and adults. People like Robert Trojanowicz and Bonnie Bucqueroux have been proponents of this model. Communities which have incorporated this strategy have shown improvement in community and police cooperation and cutting down on minor crimes.

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