Ideologies and methodologies associated with community policing
Community policing has become a common trend in the field of law enforcement. This trend is occasioned by the efforts made by the police officers and the community leaders in their search for law and order within the society. A major point of discussion in this matter is about the methodology and ideologies that are related to community policing. Ideologically, community policing became a necessary idea because of the deteriorating relationship between the community and the police officers. Police officers did their work and tried to create a rift between them and the community members (Gaines & Kappeler, 2014). The police officers were highly dreaded by all and sundry within the community. However, this approach to policing yielded poor results on the part of law enforcement since the community members helped in hiding the offenders and criminals. Therefore, close relationship and mingling with the community members became the best idea for achieving better results. Community policing arose as the most effective strategy for creating productive synergies between the police officers and the community in working concertedly towards eliminating crime and offenses from the community (Gaines & Kappeler, 2014). It is vital to understand the fact that community policing normally encompasses diverse philosophical and practical approaches.
Various methodologies are used in implementing community policing. There are different community policing methodologies applied depending on the specific needs and responses of the particular community. In common cases, chief executives of communities are used as the linkages between the police officers and community (Maxson, Hennigan & Sloane, 2003). Matters of civil offense are channeled through the chiefs who hear the preliminary submissions from the parties before settling the cases or forwarding them to the police officers with recommendations. Another methodology that is used is contracting the vigilantes. They act as informants of the police on the ground in the community. These approaches have been effective in helping the police have effective control over law and order within communities.
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Impact of community policing towards fostering positive police-community relations
One major achievement of community policing is the close and cordial relationship it has helped create between the police and members of the community. Community policing has helped to create bridges between the police and the community, which have improved the productivity of policing work (Gaines & Kappeler, 2014). Today, the members of the community are much willing to approach the police and share with them crucial security information. As observed earlier, there was an atmosphere of fear among the members of the community towards the police officers. The police officers were quite brutal and harsh then (Forman Jr, 2004). However, community policing has changed the police officers into friendly partners of the community members. It has created a platform where both the police and community members share the goal of achieving law and order.
Another impact of community policing is the high level of trust it has built between the members of communities and police officers. Trust is essential because it is what makes the members of communities to feel the courage of sharing crucial security information and intelligence with the police. This trust has also helped in reducing the brutality of the police towards the people in the community (Worrall & Zhao, 2003). The police now realize the rights of people and respect them since they know the masses are key stakeholders and partners in the work of securing the society.
How community policing may be used in the war-on-drugs
Community policing is quite effective in the war on drugs. In the war on drugs, community policing may be used to get tip-off information and intelligence from the locals through the chiefs on the drug-dealing gangs who hide within the community (Worrall & Zhao, 2003). Such information may be useful to the police in terms of tracing the drug-dealing gangs and arresting them.
References
Forman Jr, J. (2004). Community policing and youth as assets. J. Crim. L. & Criminology , 95 , 1.
Gaines, L. K., & Kappeler, V. E. (2014). Policing in America (8 th Ed.) . London: Routledge.
Maxson, C. L., Hennigan, K., & Sloane, D. C. (2003). Factors that influence public opinion of the police . Washington, DC: US Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice.
Worrall, J. L., & Zhao, J. (2003). The role of the COPS Office in community policing. Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management , 26 (1), 64-87.
