NCJ Number
97849
Date Published
1985
Length
43 pages
Annotation
This monograph identifies major issues involved in the implementation of a foot patrol program and presents the results of a survey of 143 United States and 13 foreign police departments with community policing programs.
Abstract
Most community policing programs operated in downtown business districts and shopping centers, although there were many in low-income housing projects and areas with high-density populations. Of the departments surveyed, 28 percent stated their program has expanded, while 41 percent said it had remained stable. Some programs contracted and expanded depending on the season, neighborhood changes, and available manpower. Five major reasons were given for initiating a community policing program: to counter a crime problem, to increase police visibility, to meet police department priorities, to increase merchants' sense of security, and to improve police-citizen communication. About 94 percent of the programs were funded out of the regular police budget. Departments preferred volunteers and selected officers on the basis of their communications and personal interaction skills. Officers no longer perceived the duty as 'retirement' or punishment. The survey revealed that 69 percent of the officers assigned to community policing liked it for the flexibility, personal contact, and status of the assignment. Almost all respondents felt their programs would be continued. The survey also covered size of the programs, officers' sex and race, officers' duties, and community acceptance. The survey of foreign police departments showed that while foot patrol was used more extensively than in the United States, motor patrol remained the main policing method. Charts and the questionnaires are included.