Case Studies with Questions and Answers
Chapter 01: The Idea of Community Policing
Recently you were appointed the chief of police of an urban police department. You have twenty years of law enforcement experience with this department. The previous administration used a traditional model of policing. In other words, the police department was model on a paramilitary structure with a distinct chain of command including line officers, sergeants, lieutenants, captains, and upper administration. The former chief believed that the function of police was primarily reactive. If citizens called for service the police would respond and take a report, but they did little beyond that.
Morale in your department is low. Police officers openly discuss the futility of their jobs. For example, they talk about responding to the same domestic disputes over and over again without any real resolution. They complain that they are not social workers and they feel that these calls are relatively unimportant. Most of your officers think that their role is to "fight crime" not to babysit the general public.
You have received several complaints about criminal activity in your city. Many of the citizens have expressed dissatisfaction with the police department's handling of crime. They feel that their concerns are not being taken seriously.
You have decided to adopt a community policing model to address these issues.