NCJ Number
228147
Journal
Criminal Justice Policy Review Volume: 20 Issue: 3 Dated: September 2009 Pages: 326-343
Date Published
September 2009
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This study explores the future of policing and looks at police chiefs' views toward community policing and homeland security.
Abstract
The results of the study indicate that although many chiefs see the emphasis on community policing waning in light of homeland security concerns, most of them also see the two strategies as complementary. Police chiefs with 4-year degrees, chiefs from smaller departments, and chiefs from departments with higher levels of community policing implementation were less likely to see the emphasis on community policing waning. In addition, chiefs with at least a 4-year degree and those from departments with higher levels of community policing implementation were more likely to see community policing and homeland security as complementary strategies. The results indicate that, at least in Virginia, community policing continues to have a future. Study implications were discussed. Over the last three decades, police agencies have seen a move toward the adoption of community policing. However, since September 11, 2001, policing focus has appeared to shift toward homeland security. The question was whether this represented a shift to a new policing philosophy or a modification to an existing one. This exploratory study sought to disentangle this relationship by investigating police chiefs' attitudes toward community policing and homeland security. Data for this study came from a survey of police chiefs in municipal, county, and college or university police agencies in Virginia. Tables, appendix, notes, and references