What is Community Oriented Policing?

Cities and counties across the nation are turning to community policing. Community policing is a strategy that builds on fundamental policing practices with an emphasis on crime prevention and lasting solutions to problems. It requires new resolve from citizens and new thinking from police officers.

Community policing reduces crime and fear while restoring a sense of order. But it also can rebuild the bond between citizens and government.

Police officers, as public servants who interact with citizens on a daily basis, have a unique opportunity to demonstrate the importance of citizen involvement in the community.  In turn, they realize that their authority and effectiveness are linked directly to the support they receive from citizens. When fully embraced, community policing is democracy at its best.

The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 authorized funds to promote community policing and add 100,000 community policing officers to our nation's streets. The U.S. Department of Justice created the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) to carry out this mission.

For more information about Community Oriented Policing please visit this site.

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