CRIM101 Assignment:
“The Role of the Police”
This essay explains how community policing promotes Political, Social, and Environmental Responsibility. It builds trust and accountability between police and citizens, strengthening democracy. It encourages community involvement and inclusivity to improve safety. It also supports safer, healthier neighborhoods by addressing quality-of-life issues. Programs like Evansville’s “Neighborhood Watch” and Fort Wayne’s “Coffee with a Cop” show how partnerships create stronger, more connected communities.
Written by Molly Mungle
Community policing is a strategy that focuses on building partnerships and solving problems together to improve public safety and reduce crime. This approach emphasizes creating trust and open communication between police and community members, encouraging people to get involved in keeping their neighborhoods safe.
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Here are two examples of community policing programs from Indiana police departments that show how this approach works in practice:
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Example 1:
Evansville Police Department’s “Neighborhood Watch” Program
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The Evansville Police Department uses its Neighborhood Watch program to engage residents in crime prevention. This program encourages people to stay aware of their surroundings, report suspicious activity, and attend community meetings. By working together, residents and police can address concerns and prevent crime, aligning with community policing principles of partnership and proactive problem-solving.
Example 2:
Fort Wayne Police Department’s “Coffee with a Cop”
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The Fort Wayne Police Department’s “Coffee with a Cop” program invites residents to meet officers informally over coffee. This relaxed setting lets people ask questions, voice concerns, and build relationships with police outside of emergencies. This program promotes community policing by fostering trust and transparency between officers and residents.
These programs show how Indiana police departments are using community policing to build safer neighborhoods through trust, communication, and partnerships between police and the communities they serve.
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References
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Community Policing & Neighborhood Watch Program | City of Bloomington, Indiana. (n.d.). Bloomington.in.gov. https://bloomington.in.gov/police/neighborhood-watch
Community Policing Defined. (n.d.). https://portal.cops.usdoj.gov/resourcecenter/content.ashx/cops-p157-pub.pdf