ormous amount of decentralized power, patrol officers have to prove they will do the best jobs possible. Mistakes will be made on the way, but it’s a part of the learning process that just makes the officer stronger and wiser in the future. Because the changing process does not happen overnight, “it is firmly believed that the philosophy of community policing cannot be realized until significant changes are made in the areas or organizational structure, management style, and personnel. Assuming such changes do occur, community policing still has a long way to go”(Riechers, 113). This in-depth statement shows us that the community policing journey is long and hard, but can be very rewarding at the end.Last, but not least, it is important for supervisors to make sure that other officers are on the right track to the commitment of community policing. Management need to be working on an organizational structure and problem solving, while patrol officers need to focus on problem solving and police interaction with citizens of the community. “According to community policing theory, an enduring, committed, and involved police presence not only boosts feelings of security and reduces the fear of crime among citizens, but actually leads to reductions and solutions to crime”(Officers, 1).As we can see, it takes not just one patrol officer or one supervisor to start community policing in motion, it takes the whole department. Yes, it does take time to develop and execute a plan that is right for your department, but when the plan comes together, hopefully it will become a success. Mistakes will still happen, but as good teams do, they’ll bounce back with a greater determination for success. ...
