Kappeler: Community Policing, 6th Edition


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.

Questions

  1. Compare and Contrast Problem-Oriented Policing and Community Policing.
  2. Correct Answer

    Problem-Oriented Policing

    • Primary emphasis: substantive social problems within police mandate.
    • Police and community collaboration is determined on a problem-by-problem basis.
    • Highest priority given to thorough analysis.
    • There is a strong preference for alternatives to criminal law enforcement be explored.
    • Mobilizing the community is advocated only if warranted within the context of the specific problem being addressed.
    • Geographic decentralization or police and continuity of officer assignment to the community is preferred, but not essential.
    • Strongly encourages input from community while preserving ultimate decisionmaking authority to police.
    • Emphasizes is placed on intellectual and analytical skills for officers.
    • Encourages broad, but not unlimited role for police, stresses limited capacities of police and guards against creating unrealistic expectations of the police.
    Community Policing
    • Primary emphasis: engaging the community in the policing process.
    • The police and community almost always collaborate.
    • Problem analysis is encouraged, but less important than community collaboration.
    • Preference for collaborative responses with community.
    • Organizing and mobilizing the community emphasizes a strong role for police.
    • Geographic decentralization of police and continuity of officer assignment to community is essential.
    • Emphasizes sharing decisionmaking authority with the community.
    • Emphasizes is placed on officers' interpersonal skills.
    • Encourages expansive role for police to achieve ambitious social objectives.


  3. What are the four facets of community policing?
  4. Correct Answer

    Four major facets occur when community policing is implemented: (1) the philosophical facet, (2) the organizational and personnel facet, (3) the strategic facet, and (4) the programmatic facet.


  5. Who are the police and what is their role in traditional and community policing?
  6. Correct Answer

    Traditional Policing
    The police are a government agency principally responsible for law enforcement. Their role is to focus on solving crimes.
    Community Policing
    The police are the public and the public are the police; police officers are those who are paid to give full-time attention to the duties of every citizen. Their role is a broader problem-solving approach.


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