NCJ Number
196236
Journal
Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management Volume: 25 Issue: 2 Dated: 2002 Pages: 371-384
Date Published
2002
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This conceptual article focuses on the small-town municipal police department as a distinctive model within the mosaic of American policing.
Abstract
It is evident that small-town police departments stand in stark contrast to the dominant big-city model and constitute a distinctive modal form of policing in the United States. What is most important are the implied lessons that can be learned and transferred from the policing of small towns to urban areas. As U.S. society becomes more diverse, large urban police departments should attempt to duplicate the successes of the small-town police department by replicating the structures and activities responsible for the success of small-town police; for example, because cities are divided into ethnic neighborhoods, where a distinctive ethnic culture thrives, each neighborhood could be viewed as a separate community with its own police department. The extreme centralization that dominates the urban police department must be reconsidered, and local precinct commanders must be given the discretionary authority to tailor their practices to the needs of their jurisdictions. This decentralization would require a stable patrol force of generalist officers who live in the neighborhoods they police. Like the small town, big-city neighborhoods could be given a precinct police station largely unencumbered by central headquarters' efforts to standardize policing in all neighborhoods. Because small-town police are trusted members of the community they serve, they are interested in improving the quality of life of the residents. They keep communication channels open in an effort to facilitate the flow of information necessary to both prevent and solve crime. 5 notes and 43 references