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Police Methods for Identifying Community Problems

Police Methods for Identifying Community Problems. Webster & Connors (1993). Community-Oriented Policing. Lots of interest among police chiefs Little knowledge, though 80% reported needing assistance or research on the subject

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Police Methods for Identifying Community Problems

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  1. Police Methods for Identifying Community Problems Webster & Connors (1993)

  2. Community-Oriented Policing • Lots of interest among police chiefs • Little knowledge, though • 80% reported needing assistance or research on the subject • 69% report interest in apply problem solving techniques specifically to drug problems

  3. COP v. POP • Commonalities • Recognize need to draw community & police closer • Consultations between police & residents • Development of strategies to fit neighborhood needs • Mobilization of community resources • But, Community Policing encourages a higher level of community problem identification & analysis • Fine tuning of an existing COP program • A specific enhancement to COP

  4. Community Policing • Described as a philosophy and an organizational strategy • It broadens the police mandate by placing an increased emphasis on involving the community in identifying problems and exploring solutions • Problems such as fear of crime, crime prevention, disorder, neighborhood deterioration • Recognize link between blight and crime

  5. Variation in COP • Common philosophy but varying emphasis • Portland (OR) – “partnership, empowerment, problem solving, accountability, & service” • Montgomery County (MD) – ultimately COP is “what the Dept. and the community agree it to be” • Seattle (WA) – COP is “an operating philosophy rather than specific tactics” • Tempe (AZ) – COP is partnership between police and community to “improve the quality of life in our city by identifying and resolving public safety concerns”

  6. What COP Is Not • Agreement on what COP is not • Not an attempt to turn police officers into social workers • Not a return to unprofessionalism, payoffs, and political manipulation • Not a public relations ploy • Not limited community relations unit

  7. Problem Solving • 4 steps • Identification or scanning • Analysis • Response • Assessment • Researchers voice concern about “pinning it down in ways that might inhibit its continued growth”

  8. 1970s • Cop has been around since the 1970s • Many successful programs aiming at identifying and solving community problems • Foot patrol program in Flint (MI) • Community policing experiments in Madison (WI), Edmonton (Canada), Houston (TX), Newark (NJ) • NYC Community Patrol Officer Program (COPE) • USDOJ has increased its commitment to COP • BJA finding of programs • “weed and seed”

  9. Problem Identification • Officer Attitudes • Many officers see COP as just another fad • COP calls on officers to focus on disorder or on environmental conditions that facilitate crime • This might conflict with their view of the “crime fighter” • Other personnel must be convinced of the merits of COP in order for it to succeed • Personnel who prepare the budget, purchase equipment, perform crime analysis

  10. Departmental Preparation & Support • Other problems can be encountered relating to the department’s preparation for COP • Officers need time to engage in problem identification & solving • Well-staffed lower crime dept.s have no worry • What about busy dept.? • COP is at mercy of 911 • An absence of rewards for problem solving may also inhibit problem identification

  11. Ways to Identify Problems • Officer observation & experience • Excellent way to learn of problems is to listen to patrol officers recount their experiences • Patrol officers can also identify opportunities to prevent crime • Patrol officers assigned to neighborhoods have opportunities to observe neighborhood conditions

  12. Crime Analysis • Minneapolis (MN) • Found 50% of calls came from 3% of places • All robbery calls came from 2.2% of places • All rape calls came from 1.2% of places • All auto thefts came from 2.7% of places • Use crime analysis and crime mapping to uncover crime patterns

  13. Community Groups • Soliciting information from community groups & citizens good way to get them involved in their own problem solving • Neighborhood Watch • Cautions • Their concerns might not reflect those of the neighborhood as a whole • Group members are not necessarily representative of those who would be affected by proposed solutions • Police must be careful not to raise expectations

  14. Surveys • Officers may canvass business proprietors for information • Officers can telephone businesses • Officers may survey residents • Officer surveys can be used to develop beat profile • Great PR tool

  15. Other Information Sources • TV • Newspapers • Letters to the editor • editorials • Radio • Local talk shows

  16. Appropriate Problems for Patrol Problem Solving • Burglaries concentrated in a given area • Auto thefts from a mall • Drug activity at a private residence • Loitering in a given area • Parking & traffic problems • Prostitution • Cruising

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