NCJ Number
60108
Journal
POLIZEI BEAMTE Volume: 59 Issue: 4 Dated: (FEBRUAR 1979) Pages: 49-52
Date Published
1979
Length
4 pages
Annotation
IN THE INTEREST OF IMPROVED POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS IN SWITZERLAND, THE WEARING OF NAMETAGS AND THE CREATION OF A SPECIAL LIAISON FORCE IS RECOMMENDED.
Abstract
TO ABET PUBLIC RESENTMENT AGAINST THE POLICE FORCE, OFFICERS NEED TO SHOW CONCERN AND UNDERSTANDING FOR CITIZEN GRIEVANCES. FOR INSTANCE, SWISS POLICE OFFICERS MIGHT WEAR NAMETAGS ON THEIR UNIFORMS TO (1) MAKE IT EASIER FOR THE CITIZENS TO ADDRESS THE OFFICERS BY CREATING A MORE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP, (2) LESSEN THE TENSION BETWEEN THE TWO SINCE THE POLICEMAN CAN NO LONGER HIDE BEHIND HIS UNIFORM, AND (3) OBLIGATE THE OFFICER TO EXEMPLARY EXECUTION OF HIS DUTIES. A PUBLIC OPINION POLL CONDUCTED IN 1977 INDICATED THAT 49 PERCENT OF THE QUESTIONED CITIZENS WELCOMED VISIBLE IDENTIFICATION FOR POLICE OFFICERS, WHILE 32 PERCENT FOUND IT UNNECESSARY. IN CREATING THE POSITION OF 'CONTACT OFFICER,' THE CITY OF BERLIN ADOPTED ANOTHER METHOD FOR IMPROVING POLICE REPUTATION WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. THE 'CONTACT OFFICERS' HAVE THE SPECIFIC DUTY OF IMPROVING PUBLIC SECURITY, ADVISING THE CITIZENS IN POLICE MATTERS, AND ALERTING THE POLICE FORCE TO SPECIFIC SECURITY RISKS AND CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES WITHIN THEIR CIRCUIT. THE INNOVATION NOT ONLY BETTERED PUBLIC OPINION BUT THOUGH COMMUNITY COOPERATION ALSO INCREASED THE NUMBER OF ARRESTS BY 3,000 IN THE FIRST YEAR OF ITS INTRODUCTION. THE ARTICLE CONTAINS SEVERAL PHOTOGRAPHS BUT NO REFERENCES. --IN GERMAN. (SAJ)