COMMUNITY POLICING

However, this is not to be done at the expense of public relations, community collaboration and responsible policing. This paper seeks to identify the various ways in which community policing can be incorporated in the patrol function of the police officer which will see an increased association and collaboration with the residents and reduced apathy towards the force. This will set the police department on a path that will battle crime and thus live up to its goal of maintaining law and order. Community policing (CP) as defined by the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) refers to a philosophy that promotes organizational strategies that support the systematic use of partnerships and problem-solving techniques to proactively address the immediate conditions that give rise to public safety issues such as crime, social disorder, and fear of crime.

" (Everbrigde, 2018). Traditional methods used for patrol were largely reactive to the incidence of crime in the areas. The officers were deployed to contain a crime after it has already happened. However, with the improved methods of CP, the practice is thus made more proactive which enhances a better focus I the regulation and control of crime. The concept of community policing is supported by various theories that drive its basic tenets. The first one is problem-oriented policing. When James Q. Wilson and George published theory in 1982, they had seen deeply in the aspect of community policing. It is a burning issue that not only depends on the drivers of crime but also assumes a collective responsibility in curbing it (Welsh et al.

According to the theory, there are more risks of aggravated crime if the lowly and possibly neglected offenses are left unattended. This is the main analogy with the broken windows. The first one is the assignment of the patrol officers. CP is more effective if the patrol officers who form the main unit in most police departments are assigned strategically. This is done in accordance with the level of crime in a given area, keeping law and order and the service destined for the public. As per the problem-oriented policing theory, these aspects are decided by the association with the community members (Braga, 2014). This association is gained from various mechanisms like having public meetings or attending social functions. Foot patrol covers fewer distances.

However, when it is done well, it severs to bring closer the members of the community with the police department. This reduces the apathy that they have towards the force which ensures there is increased collaboration. Motorized patrol, on the other hand, ensures that there is a rapid response and more ground is covered for preventive patrol (Mark, 2014). It is also effective when it is applied to a large area as to ensure that the signal from the broken windows theory is reduced over a large area which also serves the aims of community policing. The members of the community serve as their watch guards which makes the work easier for the patrol officers. Also, the closeness that can be gained from aspects like foot patrol ensures that historically maligned groups such as the minorities can appreciate an effort to reduce crime without premonitions of victimization or oppression.