to thoroughly understand a problem is not contained in a police agency's files. As a result, problem-solving officers are encouraged to draw on a wide range of sources of information from outside the department to analyze and address problems.The Key Elements of Problem-Oriented PolicingA problem is the basic unit of police work, rather than a crime, a case, a call, or an incident. A problem is a group of crimes, cases, calls, or incidents. A problem is something that concerns or causes harm to citizens, not just the police. Things that concern only police officers are important, but they are not problems in this sense of the term. Addressing problems means more than quick fixes; it means dealing with conditions that create problems. Police officers must routinely and systematically investigate problems before trying to solve them, just as they routinely and systematically investigate crimes before making and arrest. Individual officers and the department as a whole must develop routines and systems for investigating problems. The investigation of problems must be thorough, even thorough, even though it may not need to be complicated. This principle is as true for problem investigation as it is for criminal investigation. Problems must be described precisely and accurately, and broken down into specific aspects of the problem. Problems often aren't what they first appear to be. Problems must be understood in terms of the various interests at stake. Individuals and groups of people are affected in different ways by a problem and have different ideas about what should be done about the problem. Case Study: Does P.O.P. Work?Now that I’ve gotten all of the intellectual garbage out of the way, let’s get down to hard fact. Atlanta Georgia, 1989: a prime example of Problem-oriented policing. The problem was abandoned vehicles. The best way to analyze the effectiveness of this incarnation of P.O.P. is to put it through S.A.R.A.Sc...
