The most efficient way to reduce crime is to unite the police department with the community it serves. The police alone can not prevent crime and need to summons the assistance of its citizens. Without community policing, much of the police response ends up being reactive instead of proactive. We always look at statistics in a way that shows reactive status, but proactive status can not be figured into account. Some programs of community policing are bicycle, foot, and mounted patrol. Others may be police athletic clubs or after school programs sponsored and ran by the police department.
Another more modern program started by many police departments is a citizens police academy. All these programs have one main objective, to prevent crime from occurring, utilizing the community and the police department. One of the most cost-effective ways to start with community policing is the foot patrol. This method is utilized in many urban areas and elicits citizens to meet and greet the police one on one. The officer walks his beat, or patrol district, and has the opportunity to meet the public and engage in brief conversation, smile and continue with his work. When a crime does occur, the citizens are more apt to speak to the police and maybe even give more information than usual as the citizens have grown to know the police and feel more comfortable in speaking to the officers. A positive report with police shows to be one of the greatest accomplishments the police can have with the community (Hickman, Piquero, Green, 70-84).
The bicycle patrol is a more steadfast response to incidents taking place as well as a way for the police to cover larger police patrol areas. This type of community policing patrol serves well in that the police have the opportunity to.......
