Community Oriented Policing in Jefferson County: Final Evaluation Report

• NCJ Number: 160613
• Author(s): G W Cordner
• Date Published: 1993
• Length: 53 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA)
• Sale Source: Eastern Kentucky University
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This report presents an evaluation of a 1-year community- oriented policing (COP) project implemented by the Jefferson County Police Department (Kentucky).

Abstract

Two police officers and one lieutenant were assigned to the COP project in the selected district. They were given substantial latitude in determining how to use their time and what tactics to use in implementing community policing. The COP officers were given special training, and three 4-hour training sessions were provided for all district personnel. The COP officers engaged in a variety of activities, including community surveying, opening a storefront office, street enforcement, criminal investigation, problemsolving, and social services. COP officers were not primarily responsible for answering calls for service in the district, although they were encouraged to respond to calls in the area when they were on duty. The COP project was a supplement to the routine police services provided in the district. Evaluation data-collection efforts included before-and-after community surveying in the district, a community survey in the Norfolk neighborhood of Baker District, a business survey in the district at the end of the project period, before-and-after surveys of district patrol officers, a survey of Baker District patrol officers, observations, interviews, official police records, and documents. Findings show that property crime decreased approximately 50 percent; reported serious crime decreased by 9.5 percent; fear of crime decreased; concern about drug abuse and drug dealing decreased, along with concerns about gangs, crime, disorder, and quality of life; positive contacts with police increased, along with citizen satisfaction with the police department. The attitudes of police officers toward the community, their role, and their careers were generally positive. Overall, the project is deemed to be a success, and it provides evidence that community policing is a viable police strategy. 24 tables