ABSTRACT
Community policing, in its ideal form, represents a significant departure from the way American police departments have operated throughout the better part of the twentieth century. It is a philosophy that substantially broadens the role of police in society. Community policing is people-based as opposed to being bureaucratic or militaristic. It is about improving people's quality of life. Community policing officers (CPOs) must recognize that their primary function is to serve the public, not to provide law enforcement. Although law enforcement is important, it is recognized that it is only one part of the overall responsibility of the police. Today, too many police departments concentrate
on “bean counting,” or making large numbers of arrests or issuing numerous traffic citations, without considering whether such activities improve the community. Numbers of citations and arrests do not necessarily contribute to the quality of life in a community or enhance the image of police in the eyes of the community.
