Community Policing: Trendy or Effective? 73Dear Lakeshore Police Department,
This letter is in regard to the recent change in policing procedures in my neighbor-
hood. While I am appreciative that your department has taken notice ot the rampant
crime in this community, as a resident I have many concerns. Not a day goes by that I
do not hear gunshots or see some adolescent on the street selling drugs. Clangs and drugs
seem to have taken over our community and many residents do not feel safe in their
own homes. Although this neighborhood is Kill ot crime, most people living here are
not criminals. 1 am a single mother struggling to raise two school-age children.
I have heard on the news and read in the paper that your department is implementing
"community policing" in our neighborhood. 1 have heard of Neighborhood Witch
programs and the like but usually in upscale neighborhoods. Having more officers on
foot patrol and a substation on our block will make me feel safer and will hopefully reduce
crime. However, I would not feel comfortable providing tips about neighborhood crime
or testifying in court about any crimes 1 have witnessed. I have no doubt that some form
of retaliation against my children, home, or myself would be inevitable.
Unfortunately, many residents keep to themselves and frequently distrust the police,
1 fear that my neighbors would label me a "snitch" if I were to join a police-run organi-
zation. While 1 hope this new approach will make the neighborhood safer, community
participation would surprise me. Once again, I appreciate that your department has taken
steps toward reducing crime in this neighborhood.Literature Review
For the past 20 years, the trend in anticrime policy has been to implement com-
munity policing. During the 1970s and 1980s, the citizen's role in solving crime
was the focus in police research (Rosenbaum & Lurigio, 1994). The fact that pri-
vate citizens were often major factors in solving crimes or obtaining arrests was
the foundation for community policing. Research found that low clearance rates
in most police departments could be attributed to the lack of useful tips offered to
officers (Eck, 1982; Rosenbaum & Lurigio, 1994). Residents of a neighborhood
are usually the best sources regarding problems in their communities (Pate, Wycoff,
Skogan. & Sherman, 1986). However, police departments must consider if citizens
like Sandra would be willing to participate. This issue is particularly relevant in areas
with high crime rates.
The first attempt to make law enforcement more community oriented occurred
with team policing. In 1967, the police task force of the Presidents Commission
on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice suggested team policing as
a way to improve the relationship between line officers and the community. Team
policing consisted of long-term beat assignments and "walk-and-talk" foot patrols.
Problems with implementation led to the failure of team policing. The problems
associated with decentralized decision making were credited with the downfall of
this approach. It was discredited by the majority of police departments by the end
of the 1970s (Rosenbaum & Lurigio, 1994).