NCJ Number
198487
Journal
Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management Volume: 25 Issue: 4 Dated: 2002 Pages: 709-725
Editor(s)
Lawrence F. Travis III
Date Published
2002
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This Texas study examined the impact of community-oriented policing (COP) training on officers’ acceptance of COP implementation and various obstacles to it and attempted to find some prominently shared characteristics of COP by officers.
Abstract
In order for law enforcement officials to better familiarize themselves with the philosophy and theory of community-oriented policing (COP) and be successful in the implementation of COP activities, training becomes an essential element. This study surveyed 198 police officers of a police department in Texas examining their attitudes about the practice of COP and its characteristics. Specifically, this study attempted to show how training affected the way police officers understood and defined COP. This study showed that in order to make COP easier and more attainable to implement, all officers must be trained to understand the principles of COP, as well as other related characteristics. In addition, COP must be systemized so that equal, balanced, and sufficient knowledge about COP is available to all officers. Study results also indicate that some COP characteristics are given more emphasis than others. However, looking at all the characteristics as a whole in context can make more sense for several reasons: (1) each characteristic can greatly affect the others; (2) focusing on certain elements may cause officers to lose sight of the others; and (3) police resources may be allocated to promote some characteristics at the expense of others. It is recommended that more efforts and resources be spent to promote some of the less emphasized elements. Tables and references