Section Five

What Community Policing Officers

Do on the Job

In too many cases, officers are told, "You are now a community policing officer—go do
the job:' as if that is all the guidance and direction that they need to succeed. The reality, of
course, is that community policing officers will continue to need assistance even beyond the
training discussed in Section Four.
Because community policing is a philosophy, not a program, many of the intangibles
involved in the job cannot be captured on paper. Community policing officers need to be
receptive to input and ideas from citizens, and they must be creative and innovative in trans-
lating that input into actions that help to solve the problems that the community faces. Com-
munity policing officers also need freedom and autonomy—including the freedom to fail.
The job also requires flexibility in scheduling. Community policing officers often orga-
nize community events that bring the neighborhood together, and coordinating such events
typically requires working during regular business hours. Yet the officer may need the free-
dom and flexibility to work in the evenings, such as when there is a crack house to be raid-
ed. This requires a great deal of trust between community policing officers and their super-
visors. Trust is essential, since the officer must have the freedom to do what is best for the
neighborhood, although it may not fit exactly into traditional scheduling patterns.
Thus community policing is a mindset and not just an officer doing on foot what is nor-
mally done in an automobile. For example, consider the following description used by the
Michigan State University Police:

Community policing is the philosophy of involving a police officer in a specific

section of the community, with ownership, on a long-range basis. The key ele-
ment is geographic ownership. The community policing officer works to orga-
nize the resources of the community, the police department and other agencies
to reduce crime and meet the appropriate needs of the community.
Community policing is a philosophy of caring, working with people and help-
ing people. This often means helping people informally when the formal sys-
tems do not seem to work.

75
76 Community Policing: How to Get Started

In the above example, note the emphasis on community policing as a philosophy, not
just a program, and the emphasis on the community policing officer as an organizer of other
resources, not someone who performs individual tasks. This mindset forms the basis of how
the community policing officer approaches actually performing his or her job.
This section will look first at the basic duties and activities of community policing offi-
cers. It will show how these elements can be fashioned into a specific job description, which
departments can tailor to their requirements. A closer look is given at how community
policing officers directly apply the concept of community-based problem solving in their
daily work, including a discussion of logistics—about the beat itself, establishing an office,
introducing the officer to the community, the Neighborhood Network Center concept, and
so on. With that fuller understanding of what the job of community policing officer entails,
you will clearly see the implications for the selection process.

General Duties and Activities

Several years have been spent collecting information on what community policing offi-
cers do. The following list represents the general categories of duties and activities:

Law Enforcement. The community policing officer performs general duties

common to all police patrol assignments.
Directed Patrol. Though increased visibility on the street is an added plus, the
main reason for removing the community policing officer from the patrol car is
to allow the officer the time and opportunity to work behind the scenes, involv-
ing the community in efforts to make the beat a better and safer place in which
to live and work.
Community Involvement. The community policing officer attempts to build an
atmosphere of mutual respect and trust, so that average citizens and community
leaders form a new partnership with the police, to address the problems of
crime, drugs, fear of crime, and social and physical disorder, including neigh-
borhood decay.
Identifying and Prioritizing Problems. The community policing officer works
with community residents to identify and prioritize problems.
Reporting. The community policing officer shares information, including infor-
mation about problems in the beat, with officers who are part of the team and
also with the rest of the department, including special units (such as narcotics).
Problem Solving. Because of the knowledge that the community policing offi-
cer has of the neighborhood and the people who live there, he or she can be the
catalyst to develop creative solutions to problems that do not focus exclusively
on arrest.
Organizing. The community policing officer rapidly moves beyond organizing
activities such as Neighborhood Watch to organizing a number of community-
based initiatives and activities aimed at specific problems and at enhancing the
overall quality of life in the community.
 What Community Policing Officers Do on the Job

Communicating. The community policing officer gives formal and informal

talks to individuals and groups to educate people about crime prevention tech-
niques and to discuss problems in the beat. He or she also employs writing skills
to communicate with residents in the beat and may also be empowered to com-
municate directly with the media.
Conflict Resolution. The community policing officer mediates, negotiates, and
resolves conflicts formally and informally (and challenges people to begin
resolving problems on their own).
Referrals. The community policing officer refers problems to appropriate agen-
cies: code enforcement, social services, drug treatment, animal control, sanita-
tion, and so on.
Visiting. The community policing officer makes home and business visits to
acquaint individuals in the beat with community policing, to enlist their help,
and to educate them about crime prevention.
Recruiting and Supervising Volunteers. The community policing officer must
solicit, train, and supervise paid and/or unpaid community volunteers, ranging
from individuals who assist with clerical duties to people who are working with
juveniles in the neighborhood.
Proactive Projects. In addition to efforts that focus on solving immediate prob-
lems, the community policing officer works with the community on short-term
and long-term efforts to prevent problems and enhance the quality of life.
Targeting Special Groups. Part of the community policing officer's mandate is
to protect and assist groups with special needs—women, juveniles, the elderly,
the disabled, and the homeless, as well as to target other groups such as youth
gangs for special attention.
Targeting Disorder. Unlike traditional police officers, the community policing
officer' s mandate includes emphasis on developing solutions to problems of
social and physical disorder and neighborhood decay.
Networking with the Private Sector. The community policing officer contacts
and solicits the active participation of business, ranging from donations of goods
from small business to broad corporate support for new initiatives.
Networking with Non-Profit Agencies. The community policing officer acts as
both liaison and facilitator with non-profit agencies, ranging from food banks to
the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.
Administrative/Professional Duties. The community policing officer partici-
pates in training, roll call, and office duties (answering mail, phone call,
reports).

The information above describes general duties and activities, but community policing
officers need more specific reference points so that they can tell whether they are perform-
ing to the expectations of both the department and the community. A job description not
only offers the officer much-needed guidance, but it also provides supervisors the basis for
assessing the officer's performance.
78 Community Policing: How to Get Started

Without a clear job description, community policing officers can stray across dangerous
lines without realizing that they are doing so. In one department where there was no job
description for community policing officers, an officer became actively involved in a parti-
san voter registration campaign initiated by an ambitious candidate seeking to dislodge the
incumbent. Needless to say, the incumbent, his political party, city hall, and police officials
were furious—and the entire community policing effort was halted.
It is very important that prior to assigning a community policing officer to a beat that
he or she be given a job description. The job description should not be so specific that it sti-
fles creativity, but it should be specific enough so that it provides guidance. The following is
an example of a workable job description.

Sample Specific Job Description

The community policing officer will be responsible for a variety of

duties that will include, but not be limited to, the following:

• Perform the duties of a police officer assigned to the Uniform Patrol Bureau
as necessary.
• Gather and report intelligence-related information in reference to the offi-
cer' s assigned neighborhood.
• Provide a sense of security for businesses and citizens within the assigned
neighborhood.
• Become acquainted with the merchants, businesses, and citizens within the
neighborhood and assist them in identifying problem areas or concerns.
• Enforce local and state laws, particularly those related to, or specifically
drafted for, the assigned neighborhood.
• Respond when available to all calls for service within the assigned neigh-
borhood.
• Respond when available and investigate reports of criminal offenses within
the assigned neighborhood.
• Be responsible for building security, where applicable—particularly vacant
or temporarily closed businesses and residences.
• Develop and conduct speaking presentations on topics that have been iden-
tified as concerns and/or problems within the neighborhood.
• Research and develop materials for preparing outlines, newsletters, and citi-
zen training programs, as well as in-service training programs.
• Conduct interviews with representatives of the media.
• Serve as a member of various organizations and committees at the direction
of the administration.
 What Community Policing Officers Do on the Job 75

• Conduct security surveys, complete crime risk reports, and provide follow-
up contacts on commercial/residential burglaries and armed robberies that
occur within the assigned neighborhood.
• Prepare and coordinate the tasks to be accomplished within the neighbor-
hood on a weekly basis.
• Prepare weekly evaluation reports describing task accomplishments related
to program goals and objectives.
• Coordinate the services of various governmental and private agencies in an
effort to resolve identified problems within the neighborhood.
• Organize resources of the community, the police department and other
agencies to reduce crime and meet the appropriate needs of the community.
• Due to the nature of the assignment, it is anticipated that the officer selected
will have to work a flexible schedule of 40 hours per week with variable
leave days. Authorized functions or activities above 40 hours will be com-
pensated as overtime.

Community-Based Problem Solving

The list of general duties and activities and the specific job description together provide
a basic picture of what community policing officers do and what is expected of them. How-
ever, most community policing officer candidates still want examples of community-based
problem solving.

Examples of Community-Based Problem Solving

Since creativity is an essential ingredient in community-based policing, and because all

initiatives must take into account the needs of the community, there is simply no way to pro-
vide an exhaustive list of examples. Offered instead are some ideas, grouped by various
kinds of common problems and concerns. Keep in mind that some of these examples can
also be applied to other circumstances. The purpose of this listing is not to limit your imagi-
nation but to prime it.
Problem Identification. These initiatives can help community policing officers intro-
duce themselves to the community, so that they can begin to build the rapport necessary for
the community to share their concerns.

• Door-to-door drop-off of business card/flyer with telephone number of

community-based office.
• Use of community surveys to learn about unreported crime and other prob-
lems.
• Attendance at local meetings, church activities, and social events.
80 Community Policing: How to Get Started

• Use of transportation that makes community policing officers aware of the

environment and easily approachable, such as bicycles, all-terrain vehicles,
horses, and golf carts.
• Involvement in established activities such as Special Olympics.
• Use of the media to provide safety tips, especially at special times of the
year such as Halloween.

Disorder. Community policing officers can employ various approaches to identify and
deal with disorder.

• Surveillance (with or without a camera) at peak times of disorder.

• Promote enactment of loitering laws; post "No Parking or Standing" signs;
enforce park restrictions on hours and alcohol.
• Community cleanup of vacant lots that attract drug dealers and prostitutes.
• Work with code enforcement to tear down abandoned buildings that can
become havens for problem people.
• Work with churches, businesses, and volunteers to provide secure shelter
for the homeless, to gather donated clothes, to help at soup kitchens.
• Identify absentee landlords and hold them accountable for code violations
and unkempt lots.
• Tow abandoned vehicles used by prostitutes.
• Supervise offenders on probation and parole and those sentenced to commu-
nity service.

Anti-Drug Initiatives. Community policing officers can be a catalyst in addressing

street-level drug problems.

• Organize and supervise citizen groups to patrol streets where drug dealers
operate.
• Work with landlords and attend apartment showings to discourage dealers
from moving in.
• Establish drug hotlines for anonymous tips.
• Use forfeiture laws against landlords who cater to drug dealers.
• Remove pay telephones (or limit them to outgoing calls) to discourage use
by drug dealers.
• Connect addicts, particularly priority addicts such as pregnant women, with
drug treatment facilities (cutting red tape where possible).
• Post lists of jobs available in the community-based office and warn known
dealers to find other work or face arrest.
• Institute D.A.R.E. officers in schools.
 What Community Policing Officers Do on the Job 8'

• Provide positive alternative activities/groups for youngsters at risk of join-

ing gangs.
• Work with apartment managers/private security to establish a resident I.D.
system to keep drug dealers/customers out of problem facilities.

At-Risk Youths.

• Organize activities/classes designed to instill self-esteem.

• Work with recreation personnel and volunteers to expand after-school and
summer sport activities.
• Recruit volunteers for tutoring and post a list in the community-based office.
• Encourage schools to stay open late—and recruit volunteers—so that
youngsters have a place to socialize other than the street.
• Educate youths on their legal rights and responsibilities.
• Initiate conversations about child abuse to uncover hidden problems. Be
alert for signs of abuse. Organize classes for parents on dealing with stress.
• Encourage schools/churches to provide "quiet rooms" where youngsters can
do their homework.
• Involve parents in enforcing curfews.
• Work with area businesses/residents on providing safe havens for children.
• Encourage churches to develop an exchange program so that urban youth
can visit rural/suburban areas and vice versa.
• Enlist university arts/literature departments to establish classes so that
youngsters can express themselves.

Women.

• Conduct rape prevention classes.

• Establish a volunteer escort service to accompany women at night.
• Make a concerted outreach to inform women about services and facilities.

The Elderly.

• Provide information on "cons" aimed at the elderly.

• Recruit volunteers to accompany and assist them on shopping trips.
• Enlist older citizens as volunteers to work with at-risk youths.

In addition to the community policing officer's direct involvement with the above
groups, he or she can also enlist the assistance of others in the community. For example, one
community policing officer identified all of the elderly in her area that were housebound
82 Community Policing: How to Get Started

because of physical problems or because of fear of crime. She asked the local mail carrier to
do a quick check on them when the mail was delivered through a system of either waving
through the window or making quick face-to-face contact to make sure that they were okay
The firefighters at the neighborhood firestation were also willing to make daily telephone
calls to the approximately 20 persons identified in order to ensure that they were okay
(Some of these firefighters were also willing to talk to latchkey kids after school.) In addi-
tion, the officer contacted the local high school social sciences teacher, and as a community
project his students would do grocery shopping for the infirmed and volunteer for other
activities such as raking leaves and shoveling snow
There is a tremendous amount of volunteer help that can assist the officer in dealing
with the problems of the community. The officer cannot possibly do all of the cleanups and
the telephone calling, make daily contact with the elderly, and directly work on other com-
munity projects without help. However, the community policing officer can identify and
organize the residents.

Logistical Issues

Identifying Beats: Community of Interest

The last section listed the criteria for prioritizing areas that request or need community
policing. The community policing officer is usually not the one to develop these classifica-
tions, although he or she may have been input in the planning process. Having a priority list
is important because community policing will take years to be instituted throughout an
entire department. Therefore most departments begin on an experimental basis, often one
beat at a time. If the method for selecting the beats is not perceived as fair, there will be
competition throughout the city and accusations of political favoritism. Obviously the officer
assigned to a particular beat should not be caught in the middle of the politics involved.

Determining Beat Boundaries

As Section Three pointed out, the ideal in determining beats is to have distinct geo-
graphic boundaries that identify neighborhoods occupied by persons with similar charac-
teristics. The ideal is not usually achievable, however, because the area is rarely defined by
distinct boundaries such as rivers and railroad tracks and because most communities are
diverse. Therefore beat boundaries are usually determined according to a "community of
interest:' particularly based on concerns about crime and disorder. Often a public housing
tract is considered the beat boundary; in other cases, it is an area surrounding a school,
church, or an ethnic or racial enclave that exhibits some cohesiveness. There may be areas
that are "natural neighborhoods" by history, development, geography, or ethnicity Once the
boundaries have been determined, some officers hold a "name your neighborhood" contest
to increase the sense of pride and ownership within the community
 What Community Policing Officers Do on the Job 8::

Optimal Size of the Beat

When the beat area is too large, the community policing officer is overwhelmed and
cannot maintain the daily face-to-face contact so important in community policing. It is dif-
ficult to generalize about the optimal size for every beat, because size is dependent upon
population density, geographic size, amount of crime and disorder, number of perpetrators
frequenting the area, number of high-rise buildings, number of businesses, number of young
people, number of transients, cohesiveness of the community, as well as many other factors.
One rule of thumb is to have the beat area small enough so that the officer can walk
every street (or every floor of a high rise building) once every three days. Another guideline
is that the officer should be able to knock on every door in the area within an eight-month
period (recognizing that not everyone will be home at the time of the attempted contact.)
If the area is densely populated, the beat might include only a block or two. If the area
consists of single homes on large lots, the beat may be many blocks. A larger geographic
area may require that the officer use a bike, a motor scooter, or some other vehicle to patrol
the area. In these larger geographic areas, using a car but parking and walking is obviously
the most efficient method, as long as the officer is not continually tied to the radio.
"Park and walk:' although very efficient, has its problems because the officer needs to
have the mindset that being out of the automobile is as important as being in it. Many offi-
cers are reluctant to leave their patrol cars—not only because they feel it is inefficient but
because they may get a call or because they fear for their safety, even though it is becoming
increasingly clear that officers who are deeply involved in a regular beat area are safer
because citizens will come to their aid in time of crisis.
It is better to have an area that turns out to be too small than an area so large that an
officer cannot get the community stabilized. In one community, the beat area started with
500 households, because it was a high-crime area. After the area was stabilized, the beat
size was doubled the following year.
In the exuberance to begin community policing with limited resources, a common mis-
take is to make the area too large. This makes it very difficult for the officer and citizens to
identify and deal with problems on a long-term basis.

Selecting an Office: Decentralization

One of the important elements of community policing, especially in larger jurisdictions,

is decentralization. It is important that the officer be accessible and accountable to the citi-
zens. This usually necessitates the officer having an office in the neighborhood, although
this is not as important in smaller jurisdictions where the officer is accessible at the central
location. (However, even in these cases, some people are reluctant to go to a central loca-
tion). A decentralized office encourages dialogue, even though most of the community
policing officer's time will be spent out of the office.
The location of the office in the neighborhood is not as important as the need for it to
be accessible. The office can be in a(n):

• School
• Recreation center
84 Community Policing: How to Get Started

• Donated apartment within private or public housing

• Church office
• Forfeited and remodeled drug house
• Mobile home trailer

Having an office in a trailer, however, might send the message that the community
policing effort is not permanent and can be interrupted at any time. Permanency is impor-
tant, so that community policing is not perceived as just another short-term government
experiment.
Many community policing officers have been successful at securing donated space and
supplies from concerned business people, churches, schools, or other organizations. In fact,
one way to bring the neighborhood together is to organize a fund-raiser such as a rummage
sale or bake sale for the money to equip the office and even to pay for telephone and utility
bills. In one city, civic agencies such as Kiwanis and Rotary adopted specific community
police offices and paid telephone and office expenses. In another instance, a school desig-
nated all proceeds from a school soft drink vending machine to be used to support the local
community policing officer's phone expenses. Neighborhood residents may even volunteer
their time and skills to decorate, clean, and maintain the office space.
Other than the basic office furniture, a telephone, and answering machine for when the
officer and volunteers are out of the office, the officer might benefit from some or all of the
following:
office supplies business cards
photocopier information handouts
fax machine bicycle, scooter or horse

What the Officer Should Do First

Once the beat has been identified and an office selected, the newly assigned community
policing officer should take at least two weeks to become familiar with the area and its peo-
ple. Recommended "get started" activities include the following.

• Take one to two days to ride around the area alone, getting to know the
geography and the landmarks. Study a map. Note the locations of churches,
businesses, agencies and schools.
• Develop your own personal "letter of introduction." The letter should intro-
duce you by name, and it should stress friendliness, informality, and a first-
name-basis relationship. It should outline your duties as a community polic-
ing officer and provide your local office phone or pager number. Emphasize
that, in an emergency, people should dial 911, so the closest police will
respond. For long-range crime and neighborhood problems, people can con-
tact you directly as their own neighborhood community policing officer.
(See Appendix C for a sample letter of introduction.)
 What Community Policing Officers Do on the Job 8:

• After a couple of days, make contact with area clergy, business owners,
local agencies, and school officials.
• Walk the entire area and begin to meet people at random, explaining that you
are a full-service community policing officer who has been assigned to the
area on a long-term basis and that you have an office in the neighborhood
(giving them the location), hand out your business card, mention that you will
be responding to calls when you are on duty, and explain about your answer-
ing machine. It is important to mention that you are working closely with the
regular motorized officers and that they will be integrated into this approach.
• Discuss how formal survey material will be distributed, so that all residents
will have a chance to identify problems, prioritize them, and discuss which
ones they are willing to help with. (See Appendix D for a sample survey.)
• Make motor patrol officers in your area aware of your presence and keep
them informed about what you are doing. Information can be shared formal-
ly (memos, messages, role call) or informally (in conversations over eoffee
or lunch).
• Community policing officers should be supplied with a crime analysis
report for the area and an estimate of unreported crime as a baseline to com-
pare how much the reporting of crime increases over time, as an indicator of
whether trust is building.

Introduction to the Community

After taking a week or two to familiarize himself or herself with the general area, the
officer should begin going door to door, introducing himself or herself to whomever
answers and explaining his or her role. If no one is home, a business card or letter of intro-
duction should be left in the door.
Consideration should be given to other creative ways of introduction. Perhaps enlisting
a Scout troop to hand out flyers, or posting them at convenience stores and laundromats.
Officer Don Reynolds took a novel approach by writing and recording a rap song that he
called "Reynolds Rap:' which he played on a boom box as he walked the beat. Area kids
followed him, laughing and pointing. Soon, however, they could not resist asking him what
he was doing, and experience shows that if you make friends with youngsters, their par-
ents will follow

Daily Routine Activities

Even though the job of being a community policing officer requires flexibility, the offi-
cer will typically establish some sort of routine. While the routine may vary somewhat from
day to day, a daily routine can help officers organize their time. Many community policing
officers begin the shift by listening to messages on the answering machine, making call-
backs, attending to business left over from the previous day, and handling paperwork. With
the office duties under control, it is time to plan the balance of the day. Walk the beat. Meet
with others involved in community-based initiatives. Appear in court. Schedule times to
check back into the office for calls and to confer with volunteers.
86 Community Policing: How to Get Started

Specific Responsibilities

The following recapitulates the most important specific responsibilities of the commu-
nity policing officer.

• Organize the community and build a sense of pride and ownership.

• Plan and institute community-based problem-solving initiatives.
• Assist young people by:
being a positive role model.
establishing positive educational/social/athletic activities.
providing alternatives to gang membership.
offering a more nurturing environment.
involving and supporting parents.
networking with schools and other agencies that can help.
identifying and dealing with child abuse.
• Work with special groups, ranging from juveniles, women, and the elderly,
to the homeless, runaways, and substance abusers.
• Gather information with others in the department.
• Network with other agencies that can help, and document contact for others
in the department.

The Neighborhood Network Center

As the last example above (networking with others) suggests, community policing offi-
cers cannot be all things to all people or they will never have time for their law enforcement
duties. The Neighborhood Network Center concept evolved from community policing as a
means of attracting other service providers to join the community policing officer in work-
ing together to address problems with multi-problem individuals and families.
The Neighborhood Network Center concept seeks to apply the decentralized and per-
sonalized model of community policing to the delivery of other public and private social
services. This new approach allows other social service providers, such as social workers,
public health nurses, mental health professionals, drug treatment counselors, education spe-
cialists, and probation and parole officers to join the community policing officer in the com-
munity on a part-time and full-time basis. This new community-based team of professionals
operates from a facility located in the target neighborhood. Neighborhood volunteers are
also an important component. Their help can range from baby-sitting for the teenage mother
while she finishes her high school education to helping tutor kids who are having trouble in
school.
The community policing officer serves as the informal leader of this new group of com-
munity-based problem solvers for many reasons. First, the community policing officer
knows the community intimately—its strengths and weaknesses. Second, the community
 What Community Policing Officers Do on the Job 87

policing officer has already established a bond of trust with the law-abiding people in the
community, which can serve as a foundation for the other service providers. Third, the com-
munity policing officer acts as the protector for the other professionals who follow his or her
lead back into the community, just as the community policing officer is the protector of the
private citizens and volunteers in the beat area. Fourth, the community policing officer has
the broadest range of options, ranging from a pat on the back for a job well done to the use
of deadly force in dealing with the problems that the community may face.
Lansing, Michigan has established one Neighborhood Network Center and plans anoth-
er. Communities like Newport, Rhode Island; Norfolk, Virginia; and Fort Pierce, Florida
are also experimenting with similar efforts.
In Lansing, the impetus began when Community Policing Officer Don Christy talked
with a woman who revealed that her alcoholic husband beat her; her son, a high school
dropout, was probably selling drugs; and her daughter was pregnant. Faced with such a
litany of problems, many community policing officers feel overwhelmed, especially when
they realize that there is no system in place that requires agencies to work together or even
to take the lead. But in this case, when Officer Christy took his concerns to his department,
they provided the leadership necessary to bring agencies together to establish a Neighbor-
hood Network Center in donated office space in Christy's beat.
The idea seems to benefit everyone involved. The community receives a wider range of
decentralized and personalized service from one location. This "one-stop-shopping"
approach allows multi-problem individuals and families to receive the help they need with-
out running around town from agency to agency, a particular concern in low-income neigh-
borhoods where transportation is often a problem.
The agencies involved benefit by delivering superior service and by re-establishing
direct contact with clients. The police officers benefit by being able to refer people to
skilled professionals that they know and trust, freeing more time for law enforcement. The
police administration benefits because the officer is spending more time on law enforce-
ment duties, and critics of community policing can no longer claim that the job requires
police officers to be just social workers.
Space precludes listing all of the agencies that currently operate from Lansing's Neigh-
borhood Network Center, but it should be noted that it provides space for a decentralized
police investigator and the regular patrol officers (called "district" officers) who work the
three shifts on a 24-hour basis. Working from the same facility has allowed them to become
involved in the community-based, problem-solving process and, eventually, Officer Cristy
should put himself "out of business" because the district officers will be the community
policing officers. Obviously this is a long-term ideal.
For those considering a Neighborhood Network Center, this reform requires:

• A commitment to structural and organizational change within the participat-

ing agencies.
• A formal mission statement and letter of agreement.
• A response tailored to local needs and resources.
• Clear support from the top of each participating agency.
• The delegation of authority and responsibility to line-level employees.
88 Community Policing: How to Get Started

• The establishment of a community-based facility in a defined beat area.

• Opportunities for part-time and full-time, line-level employees (and volun-
teers) to have sustained, face-to-face contact with the community.
• Community input in identifying and prioritizing problems (through surveys
and direct contact).
• A focus on problem solving, through a team approach.
• A commitment to recruit and involve local volunteers.
• A mandate to be creative and innovative.

There are still some issues and obstacles to identify and deal with, most notably: fund-
ing, how to evaluate success, who will be the leader(s), formal and informal acco-untability,
liability, confidentiality, terminology, and ethical considerations.
There is not yet enough experience with the Neighborhood Network Center approach to
identify all of the potential problems that may arise. Among the many questions to be
answered are: Will all team members be allowed the flexibility to work hours as needed?
How will each agency handle issues of overtime? Is it likely that some team members will
shift from part time to full time and back again, as needed? Will team members have the
right to change the boundaries of the "beat" area that they serve? As the community stabi-
lizes, for example, we might expect the size of the community policing officer's beat to
grow. Will changing demographics in the community require changes in the roster of the
team? Will some initiatives be so successful that some team members are no longer needed?
If so, does it really make better sense to have them return to working out of a centralized
facility? Or should this be the model for the delivery of service, regardless of the level of
problems in the community? These and many other questions need to be addressed through
ongoing research and evaluation of Neighborhood Network Centers if they are to become
the model for high-crime areas. The National Center for Community Policing is currently
conducting this research.

Selection of Community Policing Officers

It may take a different type of officer to succeed in community policing, although most
contemporary officers can probably succeed if they are given support and rewards. If com-
munity policing is to become the way that all police officers deliver service to the community,
then everyone in the department should be ready and willing to step into that role.
Some departments have been restructuring their recruiting so that they will attract can-
didates oriented to the community policing philosophy. In one case, a department produced
an introductory brochure that includes information on community policing given to all who
apply, and the entrance examination and pre-employment oral interview focuses on the
principles and concepts of community policing. As a result, those who do not endorse these
 What Community Policing Officers Do on the Job 81

ideas typically seek work elsewhere, and interviewers can also screen out candidates who
do not seem suited to community policing.

Rookies versus Veterans

There is no formal research to show whether experience in police work correlates

with success as a community policing officer, and there are success stories of eager rook-
ies as well as burned-out veterans who claim to be "born again" as community policing
officers. Yet there are obvious plusses and minuses that should be considered with both
groups.
In the case of rookies and inexperienced officers, the good news is that they have no
bad habits to undo and no preconceived notions about the job. Yet, as a general rule, it
seems that officers need at least three years of experience to become comfortable with
police work. Prior to that, officers often have difficulty in four areas.

• Making Arrests. It can be difficult for inexperienced officers to get a han-

dle on the job of making arrests. Some make too many arrests, particularly
in situations where other alternatives might make better sense. Others are
clumsy or uncomfortable at first. It can take time for many inexperienced
officers to get a feel for this aspect of the job.
• Culture Shock. Many police officers come from middle-class backgrounds,
and they may never have seen what life is like in high-crime, low-income
neighborhoods. Problems such as child abuse and domestic assault may be
so far from their experience that it will take time for them to learn how to
handle such situations.
• "Red Light and Siren Syndrome." Many candidates grew up watching
police on TV, so they selected police work because it seems to offer
action and excitement. As a result, the job can seem dull in comparison. It
may take a few years for them to get the desire for action and danger out
of their systems.
• Lack of Knowledge/Information. Community policing officers network
with a host of other government officials and representatives from various
agencies, and many young people do not clearly understand how various
elements of the "the system" work. While training can address some of
these concerns, experience is often the best teacher.

On the other hand, veterans who are jaded or cynical may not find a new lease on life
as community policing officers. Some may have succumbed to the negative pressure of
peers to the point where their ingrained attitude about the department and about the public
would make it hard for them to succeed in a job that requires reaching out to people to
establish trust. Others may disagree with the philosophy to the point that nothing can
change their minds. Keep in mind that officers who do a great job as traditional police offi-
cers may not be good community policing officers, because the job requires different, addi-
tional skills.
90 Community Policing: How to Get Started

Selection Criteria

The following is a list of selection criteria that one department uses for the job of com-
munity policing officer.

• The expression of interest and qualifications for the position.

• The ability/willingness to physically withstand the rigors of walking
throughout the assigned neighborhood.
• The willingness to work flexible hours as community needs dictate.
• The ability to communicate effectively with all levels within the department
and with the general public.
• A previous work history that demonstrates dependability.
• The ability to work independently with a minimum of direct supervision.
• Written communication skills, demonstrated via a one-page original docu-
ment as directed.
• An interest in the position and the ability to communicate effectively, as
demonstrated in front of an oral interview board.

Conclusion

This section has attempted to present in as much detail as possible what officers actual-
ly do on the job. It must be kept in mind, however, that these are general guidelines and that
there will be variations depending on the jurisdiction and the problems identified.

Questions and Answers

What are some of the first things that should be done by a department that is
contemplating community policing? First, educate everyone from the top down,
including civilians. Next, secure input from the citizens regarding what their
problems are, possible office location, and role of the officer. Third, establish a
specific job description and role definition for the officer. Before the officer is
actually placed in the beat area, he or she should be given some time, a week or
two, just to observe the community and to build upon any information about the
strengths and weaknesses of the community.

What are some of the first things community policing officers should do when
they begin? One of the first things, obviously, is for the officer to understand the
beat area, identifying strengths and weaknesses. The officer should take time to
drive around and become familiar with the roads, the businesses, the churches,
and the neighborhood in general. Then the officer should go door to door, to meet
as many of residents as possible, with a letter explaining what the community
 What Community Policing Officers Do on the Job 9

policing officer' s role is. These letters can also be posted in businesses and on
bulletin boards, and the media can help. Officers can also attend business meet-
ings, civic meetings, and spread the word that they are in the community, giving
the location of the office and office hours. Officers should do everything possi-
ble to get the word out that they are there to help identify and solve problems.

How should the beat be selected? The selection of the beat depends on many
factors, ranging from the amount of crime and disorder in the area to the density
of population, the number of juveniles, and the amount of community organiza-
tion that exists. Obviously, density of population is a major consideration,
because an officer will have difficulty walking in an area that is sparsely popu-
lated. Within a 6- to 8-month period, the officer should be able to visit every
household in the area, talking to residents or leaving them a calling card or flyer
explaining his or her role. If the officer cannot literally knock on every door in
that time, the beat is too large. Remember that the officer will be doing much
more than just walking and knocking on doors. He or she will be responding to
complaints, organizing the community, and performing other job functions. As a
rule of thumb, err on the side of making the beat too small. Once the officer gets
the beat under control, with citizens' help, it can then be expanded.

Where should the decentralized office be? It does not really matter where it
is—a school, a church, a business, or an apartment house—as long as the officer
is accessible to the community and does not become co-opted by any particular
group: school officials, business people, or other special interests. It is useful to
have neighborhood residents volunteer to answer telephones and perform other
necessary activities. If the office is large enough, it can become a place where
citizens interact with both the officer and other residents.

How does a small department that only has two or three cars out at a time
maintain beat integrity when cars answer calls all over the jurisdiction? What
departments do in this case is assign a particular area of the city to the officer.
He or she will be expected to handle calls all over the city if the other cars are
busy, but, on free patrol time, he or she will go back to the assigned area, get out
of the automobile, and develop the rapport and the relationships necessary to
make community policing effective.

Why do officers enlist the community in activities such as community

cleanups, painting, and flower planting that enhance the beauty of the com-
munity? If this question is raised by regular officers, supervisors can say, "Why
don't you talk to the people you are arresting: the drug dealers, the buyers, and
the prostitutes and the disorderly people, and ask them why they ply their trade
in particular areas?" Predictably, these officers will find that these persons ply
their trade in areas that are disorderly, unkempt, and look disorganized, which
acts like a magnet for predators. That is why cleanup is such an important aspect
of community policing. Once a community looks like it has pride, then predators
are less likely to perpetrate their deviant behavior there. The point of this discus-
sion is also that when questions arise, turn them back on the questioners so they
find their own answers. The community policing officer and supervisor should
not have to feel the pressure to answer all of the questions, often becoming
defensive and abrupt in the process.
92 Community Policing: How to Get Started

Will there be displacement of crime with community policing? The answer is

yes, there will be some displacement—for example when drug dealers are
pushed out of one area into another. But if that area becomes vigilant and citi-
zens are involved with the police, the constant moving around of the drug deal-
ers may ultimately either convince them to quit selling drugs or to seek treat-
ment if they are addicts. The long-term solution is to have all neighborhoods
become active so that there is no place for the "deviant" people to hide.

Should there be "community-oriented public service," not just community

policing? The Neighborhood Network Center concept is an example of decen-
tralizing and personalizing other public services. Bringing services closer to the
people will enhance delivery and increase accountability.

Does the community policing officer answer radio calls? The community
policing officer is a full-service police officer and should therefore answer radio
calls. Community policing officers can even provide backup on serious calls if
they are in the area. One of the negatives of answering calls, however, is that the
officer may get bogged down and just begin reacting and not doing the organiz-
ing and preventive work necessary to make community policing effective. If this
happens, the officer can be relieved at certain times or hours of the shift to work
on identifying a certain problem and solving it. Ideally, the officer should be
able to react to calls intermittently. After the officer has developed a rapport
with the community, citizens will be patient and often will wait for a response if
the officer cannot get there right away. Even if the officer is off duty, citizens
will often wait to discuss particular problems with their community policing
officer. There should be a balance, but the officer should always take some calls.

If the residents of the area move frequently, can community policing be

effective? The more stable the population, the more the residents have a "stake"
in the community. The existence of transient populations should not be an
excuse not to implement community policing, however. It may be more difficult,
but there are always stable elements in any community (businesses, churches,
etc.) In addition, whether the citizens are permanent, semi-permanent or tran-
sient, they all have a concern for their safety, and that can be the focus for com-
munity involvement.

What is an example of an innovative community policing technique? Some

community policing officers keep track of deaths in their beat area. When the
funeral and visitation times are identified, the officer can make an extra effort to
patrol the residences of people who will be attending, denying those who search
obituaries for potential victims the opportunity for burglary. Officers can merely
leave a calling card in the door to say that they were there, protecting the citi-
zens' property. Obviously this sends a positive message about the police depart-
ment and the officer, and it may prevent a burglary. Officers on all shifts can
participate in this kind of activity.

How can the community policing orientation be applied to a traffic problem?

Traffic is a concern, not only because people drive too fast but because of prob-
lems like drunk driving. The conventional approach is usually to issue a citation
or make an arrest. A community policing approach may include giving speeders
 What Community Policing Officers Do on the Job 9

a warning and a confidential survey, asking them how the area could be made
safer, and how they can be encouraged to slow down. They can tell why they
disobeyed the laws, and then give input to help solve the problem. In one com-
munity, the problem was that all of the recreational facilities were closed
between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. for maintenance. Once these hours were
altered and most of the facilities were opened, the erratic driving was reduced
because the high school students were now using the facilities.

Are barricades and other obstacles effective in supplementing community

policing? Barricades and other gimmicks and gadgets are, by themselves, a
short-term solution, but can be useful as part of an overall community policing
plan. They can give the citizens a false sense of security, transmitting that there
are "quick fix" solutions to serious crime problems. In addition, barricades
merely push the problem from one area to another, sending the message to
predators that they are winning and that their behavior has greatly inconve-
nienced law-abiding citizens. The cause of the problem needs to be dealt with,
not just the symptoms.

How does community policing address graffiti, and what can be done to deal
with it? Graffiti is a symptom of problems in the neighborhoods, even if it is not
gang related. If the young people have the time and the energy for graffiti, that
time and energy can be channeled into constructive purposes. Some courts
require that probationers perform cleanup projects and paint over graffiti. How-
ever, it needs to go beyond that, and activities need to be developed to help the
young people be constructive and learn long-term skills. Recreation activities
like leaving high school gyms open at odd hours and using volunteers to super-
vise the activities are examples of helping young people use their time construc-
tively. Also, art classes and contests can be started to channel their graffiti "tal-
ents" into positive directions. There needs to be not only enforcement but also
self-enriching activities.

Has the use of cameras and video cameras been successful in combating drug
problems in the neighborhood? The use of cameras where citizens mobilize to
take pictures of, for example, the license plate numbers of drug customers has
been useful as one method of discouraging drug dealing. This, however, is limit-
ed to buyers who live outside of the neighborhood. This is not as successful with
local drug buyers because they walk to the transaction. With these offenders,
there needs to be enforcement, treatment, and prevention.

How do you deal with landlords who continue to rent to drug dealers? Some
cities have code enforcement laws that allow boarding up the house if there has
been more than one drug raid on the house in a specified period of time. In some
community policing efforts where the landlord cooperates with police, the com-
munity policing officer can be present when potential renters view the apart-
ment. The presence and the "tact" of the community policing officer can discour-
age drug dealers from renting. Also, the law-abiding landlords and the communi-
ty policing officers citywide can have a coordinated communication effort to
make sure that drug dealers do not just move from one area of the city to another.
94 Community Policing: How to Get Started

How can a community policing officer deal with stalking? The conventional
way to deal with stalking is either to use surveillance or, if the stalker is using
the telephone, to put a "tap" on the telephone. In community policing, there
would be more community involvement. Neighbors would be made aware of the
problem; they would be on the lookout for the stalker. If the victim gets a dis-
turbing phone call, a concerned neighbor could be called to provide comfort.
The community policing officer, after having identified this particular problem,
may use some surveillance in the traditional police sense but he or she will more
actively involve the community.

Can officers who work the night shift be involved in community policing?
They can be both a direct and indirect resource for community policing. Direct-
ly, they can get to know the neighborhood and its problems. For example, they
may leave their calling card at 3 a.m. if they find a garage door left open. A note
on the card can caution residents about theft and that they should keep their
doors closed. Indirectly, they can use their "dead" time to help the afternoon_and
day shifts come up with creative solutions to problems that are occurring in the
beat area. The night shift often has more "quiet time" to think.

Why is the police officer the leader of the community-based team of service
providers? Basically because no other profession is providing leadership. Also,
the police officer, with the help of the citizens, needs to make the area safe so
that the other service providers will be safe and comfortable working in the
neighborhood. In addition, the police officer has the most intimate knowledge of
the strengths and weaknesses of the area, and he or she has the widest range of
alternatives, from a pat on the back to the use of deadly force.

Is confidentiality a problem when several different professionals are interact-

ing together in a setting like a Neighborhood Network Center? It does not need
to be a problem because there is always much "give and take" informally
between professionals. The problem arises when the best interests of the client
and the community are not considered. The same rules of professionalism and
respect for rights should guide behavior in the Neighborhood Network Center as
in any professional setting.

Is community policing practiced in all areas, regardless of population? In

heavily populated areas, the officer can interact with a large number of people in
a limited space. However, if the population is spread out, the officer can go
where people congregate, such as athletic events, church functions, and business
meetings, to name a few. As long as the officer has enough time, he or she can
adjust to population density. Community policing is especially effective in high-
crime areas.

After "cleaning up" a drug area how do you keep it from going back to the
way it was? The police can "take the beach" but the citizens of the neighborhood
have to "keep the beach." The community has to be vigilant (not vigilantes) to
make sure the neighborhood stays clean. Citizens need to be continually
involved, observant, and doing volunteer work—keeping the lines of communi-
cation open with their police department and other agencies in the community.
 What Community Policing Officers Do on the Job 1

Is working with juveniles an important element of community policing? Com-

munity policing is full-service policing, both reacting to crime and working to
prevent it. Prevention means that potential criminals will need to be discouraged
from engaging in deviant behavior. Prevention efforts need to focus on young
people. Therefore, working with young people is an important element of com-
munity policing.

How important is the media? The media can educate the community about
community policing: what the role of the officer is, the role of citizens, why peo-
ple must be patient, and the fact that community policing is a long-term endeav-
or. Citizens may have to put up with longer response time in nonlife-threatening
situations, for example, because officers are taking more time to identify prob-
lems and develop long-term solutions. Citizens may have to do more for them-
selves, so that the officer's free patrol time can be used to deal with long-term
problems. The media can help inform the public and can write positive stories
on what is happening in the community.

Will the media be receptive to doing positive stories about the accomplish-
ments of community policing? They will do positive stories, but they often do
not know what is happening unless you tell them.

Should officers be allowed to talk to the media? Some police departments are
reluctant to have officers talk to the media, arguing that they may jeopardize a
particular criminal case. Most police administrators can be convinced, however,
that the community policing officer can talk to the media about what is happen-
ing in the community and what the community is doing to solve problems. A
part of the officer's role should be dealing with the media and developing useful
information for community newsletters.

Should community policing officers attend separate roll calls? Community

policing officers may not always start and end their shifts at the same time as
other officers, so it may be difficult to have a common roll call. When possible,
however, they should attend regular roll call so that they can be seen and, most
importantly, so that they can share information and exchange ideas, and involve
the regular officers in solutions to problems. The more interaction that takes
place between community policing officers and regular officers the better.

Do community policing officers work all shifts? The community policing offi-
cer works 40 hours a week, but the beat is covered by the regular patrol officer
24 hours a day. Because community policing needs to reflect the strengths and
weaknesses of the neighborhood, the community policing officer may work any
shift or overlapping hours of two shifts. Ultimately, however, all officers should
be community policing officers.