NCJ Number
214299
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 75 Issue: 5 Dated: May 2006 Pages: 8-11
Date Published
May 2006
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article describes how the police department in Anaheim, CA revised and improved their community policing program through the utilization of the community governance approach.
Abstract
Within the realm of community policing, a community governance approach breaks down organizational and communal barriers by enlisting everyone to work as a team in solving problems. It is believed that this organized approach is capable of fighting crime better than the traditional community policing strategy. Community governance takes the existing community policing practices and brings them together in an organized and focused approach. When all city departments, as well as the community understand that their roles are as important as the police department’s in fighting crime, real progress will occur in improving the quality of life in neighborhoods. This was seen within the Anaheim Police Department in California. The Anaheim Police Department found that in utilizing traditional community policing enforcement tactics to address a significant problem with gangs, narcotics dealers, and criminals preying on small neighborhoods they were failing to reduce crime. Recognizing their limitations, the Anaheim Police Department revised their crime prevention strategy and initiated the community governance program. This article describes how the Anaheim Police Department established the community governance approach, improved the quality of life in their neighborhoods, and received an overwhelming positive response from citizens.