When discussing the concept of community-oriented policing, I sometimes hear people comment that COP is nothing more than a fancy community relations program designed to increase the popularity of the police with the residents. I must admit that I cringe when I hear that misguided comment.
Perhaps it is a matter of perspective, but to me the term community relations deals with a single goal of improving relations between the police and the community. It is as if the police are saying "we want you to like and respect us" and leave it at that. Community relations is about creating an image and seeking acceptance.
Community-oriented policing is a much broader effort with multiple goals. It is true that COP has a goal to improve relations with the community. It is difficult for the police to do their jobs if the community does not respect and support them. However, COP also seeks to engage the community in addressing crime and disorder problems through collaborative partnerships.
Partnerships are not the same as positive community relations. We do not just want you to know us as the police who work in your neighborhood. We want you to help address the social problems that give rise to crime, to find ways to reduce disorder in your neighborhood, and help us set priorities to improve on the quality of life in our community. That describes the magnitude of community policing above and beyond just community relations.
None of that can or will occur if the community does not get involved in preventing crime and social disorder. Community-oriented policing is a two-way street with active participation by both the police and the community. We are fortunate to have such a partnership in Lakeland where residents all over the city get involved in neighborhood problems and quality of life issues.
Such was the case Monday night at our meeting with the Neighborhood Association Coalition where residents and neighborhood leaders identified problem locations that need our collective attention. One could not help but get a sense the meeting was about working together.
Kudos to Lakeland's neighborhood leaders for "getting it" - community policing is about partnerships that work together to solve problems. Labeling community policing as nothing more than community relations misses the significant COP component of collaborative partnerships between the police and community, working together to fight crime and disorder.
- Asst Chief Bill LePere
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