ties better and gain public trust . They also need to better understand the community they serve . For example , what is there to know about the community beyond crime numbers ? Things like demographic characteristics , voluntary associations , economic changes , in-out migration , school dropout , citizens ’ expectations , working with private security , and how to identify civic force multipliers ( Friedmann , 2017 ).
Initiatives for police reform are not new and the best ones came from within police circles , not from politicians . This is certainly an opportunity for police reform but one that emphasizes trust-building and partnerships , moving away from silo-type disconnected services , and is based on an overall approach that has a departure point of service to the community -- not of penalizing police . Hence any funding of any effort by local government must be guided by a comprehensive data-driven approach that is formulated into clear policy and consistent overall strategies to include all municipal services , not only police . That is what should determine the funding level of police ( and other services ).
Any discussion of funding should also consider raising the salaries of police officers who are disproportionately paid for what is expected of them , for what they do , and the risk they take . It is important to recognize that there are serious crimes and that the police are the social agents – public servants -- who are uniquely qualified and trained to deal with such perpetrators . No other services are prepared to deal with this segment of society , and it wouldn ’ t be safe to expect them to do so on their own .
It is a historical time that requires shifting from sloganeering to rational , careful , thoughtful , grounded policy formulation that is data driven . It is imperative to understand what the problem is , as that will determine the policy of how to best address it . This is an opportunity for meaningful police reform that aims at more than reforming the police . The goal should be a reform of the entire range of social services to result in improving the lives of individuals and communities . This reform should rely on community input that takes into account needs , expectations , experience , identification of problems and a genuine seat at the planning effort .
The road does not end there as it is also important to consider the prospects of unintended consequences . This is a very demanding challenge that requires painstaking perseverance , long-term commitment and buy-in from all involved . It will not yield the desired results in the very immediate future , but it is a road worth taking as it is most likely to achieve the desired results .
Once on that road , consider that in addition to buyin , it is imperative to invest in nurturing relations , maintaining relations , and understanding organizational and community dynamics . Chiefs , officers , mayors , city managers , city council members , community leaders , and social service personnel change . Conditions in the community change , economies change , and political realities change . If we want this comprehensive reform to succeed , it is necessary to also maintain commitment to long-term program continuity .
John C . Alderson ( 1979 ). Policing Freedom : A Commentary on the Dilemmas of Policing in Western Democracies , Macdonald and Evans .
Robert R . Friedmann ( 1992 ). Community Policing : Comparative Perspectives and Prospects , Palgrave Macmillan .
Robert R . Friedmann , “ Broken Windows and Policing ,” The Police Chief 82 ( October 2015 ): 60 – 65 .
Robert R . Friedmann ( 2017 ). “ How can we better protect crowds from terrorism ?” The Conversation , June 1 .
International Association of Chiefs of Police ( 2019 ). Crime Prevention , Domestic Security and Quality of Life : Definition and Significant Value of Community Policing , Community Policing Committee Resolution co-sponsored by 15 IACP committees .
Robert Trojanowicz and Bonnie Bucqueroux ( 1990 ). Community Policing : A Contemporary Perspective , Anderson Publishing Co .
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