NCJ Number
203851
Date Published
1994
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This article examines key components of police agencies that use effective community-oriented policing (COP) practices and considers how the investigative unit fits into the organization's transition to COP; the North Miami Beach Police Department's COP practices provide the background for the discussion.
Abstract
Based on an extensive review of current publications, research focused on police agencies recognized for their COP efforts. Three basic components were found to link the documented successes in COP throughout the United States: the recruiting and hiring practices, training evaluation, and reward systems for the personnel and programs. These components have constituted the foundation for a proactive policing culture. In addition, departments that implement COP department-wide have mechanisms that foster acceptance of the COP concept both internally and externally. Effective implementation of COP requires that reward and evaluation systems as well as criminal investigative techniques must correspond with the priorities of COP practices. In addition to the literature review, a telephone survey was conducted of a cross-section of 27 recognized police agencies of various sizes; 21 agencies completed the survey. The survey was designed to analyze current practices. In addition, this report describes the efforts of the North Miami Beach Police Department to expand the agency's investigative responsibilities to include crime analysis, focused major crime problem solving, public awareness campaigns, and educating the judiciary about major crime problems. This is an effort to break the traditional investigative pattern of responding only to individual crimes after they occur. A demonstration project that involves these COP concepts was designed to counter violent crimes. The project will identify opportunities associated with criminal events through partnerships among the community, businesses, the judiciary, and law enforcement agencies. The intent of the project is to suppress and eliminate crime through problem recognition and community education. The overall intent of the project is to alter those circumstances and targeted behaviors that lead to specific criminal acts. Under the demonstration project, detectives will function as "Major Crime Specialists" and as task force coordinators. They will be responsible for leading their respective task forces in the identification of major crime problems, arriving at viable solutions, coordinating task force efforts, and training task force members in their assigned responsibilities. The task forces will be ongoing. Each task force will focus on one of the following crime categories: auto crimes, gang and juvenile crimes, domestic and family violence, robbery, vice crimes, and economic crimes. This report describes the work of each of these task forces. Upon completion of the demonstration project, the North Miami Beach Police Department will help train other law enforcement agencies nationwide in this approach to major crime problem solving. A project timeline is presented, extending from October 1994, the initiation of the project, through September 1995, when the project will be analyzed and a final report presented, along with preparation of training material. 24 references