Community policing

Community policing could arguably be called the new orthodoxy of law enforcement in the United States. It has become an increasingly popular alternative to what many police administrators perceive as the failure of traditional policing to deal effectively with street crime, especially crimes of violence and drug trafficking. Although the concept is defined in varying ways and its and its ability to meet its goals remains largely untested, community policing has gained widespread acceptance. Community …

…elements of the community in the search for solutions to these problems. It is founded on close mutually beneficial ties between police and community members. Community policing offers a way for law enforcement to help re-energize our communities and neighborhood watch offers a way the citizens can help the police take back their community from crime. Developing strong, self-sufficient communities is an essential step in creating an atmosphere in which serious crime will not flourish.