Community and Problem-Oriented Policing

1. Community and Problem-Oriented Policing Seventh Edition Chapter 14 Future Opportunities and Obstacles

2. Learning Objectives 14.1 Understand concerns with policing’s tendency to use, and to be criticized for applying labels and creating new “eras”. 14.2Know of the drivers and factors that will influence policing in the future. 14.3 Have fundamental knowledge of the ways in which technologies will shape policing in the future. 14.4Comprehend the need for today’s police executives to provide strong leadership in the future, particularly in the areas of militarization, public trust, succession planning, civilianization, and maintaining the role and functions of community policing.

3. Introduction • The only permanent aspect of policing is change • The historically tradition-bound domain of policing is now highly dynamic • Work still needs to be done to improve policing • What will the future bring?

4. First Things First: Jettison the Jargon • Opinion that the current era of policing is intelligence-led or predictive policing • Others say police are not community policing, but doing CompStat • Policing is in an information “age”, but not an “era” • Labeling may undercut the good work police do • Community policing, problem solving, intelligence-led policing, smart policing and predictive policing are all management tools for analyzing crime • They will continue to improve and advance policing

5. Drivers and Factors Influencing the Future of Policing • Great Recession and other economic and societal forces impacted policing • Police must anticipate and adapt to these forces • Terrorist attacks, changes in technologies, and other dynamics will continue to impact policing

6. Economic Impacts • Continued pressure to consider reductions of pension and other benefits, rising costs of policing will continue • Yet providing the same level of service is required • Consolidating agencies, formation of contract cities, and partnerships with private companies for services will all be possible solutions to the increasing costs

7. Demographic Shifts • Migration and other demographic shifts will continue to influence how police respond to new and changing communities • Need for more bilingual officers • Aging population creates a special need from police officers • Budget and changes in the economy • Consolidating of service agencies, civilianization, and volunteer programs may eliminate duplication of certain services • Sensitivity to public employee salaries, right-to-work and unions

8. Technology • Technology improves efficiency and transparency, but also raise privacy concerns • Also costly • Technology may solve crimes, but technology can also be used to commit crimes

9. A Glimpse of What’s Here, What’s on the Horizon • Possible: • Real-time crime centers • Language translators • Megapixels and cloud computing • Biometric data • Miniature biometric data-collection

10. Looking for Patterns, Making Predictions • Ability of predictive analytics to recognize behavioral patterns is growing rapidly • Cameras can be programmed to “learn” normal human behavior in order to detect unusual or suspicious behavior • Cameras can constantly and quietly monitor activity and alert authorities

11. Police-Private Partnerships • Increasing exponentially due to improved data collection ability of private organizations • It improves their ability to respond to incidents and emergencies

12. Police-Community Partnerships • Police agencies use social media to alert citizens to activities of interest and keep them informed • Agencies are also utilizing online applications • For police services, filing reports or complaints • Police can promote workshops and community programs

13. New Tech Challenges Await • Technology use may not only be impeded by cost, but also by legal issues • Example: use of drones • Example: information on personal cell phones • Protocols are needed for dealing with technological evidence • Proactive and anticipating how technology will be used by criminals and the legal consequences of used by police is needed

14. Four Considerations When Deploying New Technologies • Four factors to consider when deploying new technologies: • Cost • Determining and managing expectations • Planning for privacy • Security implications

15. Terrorism and Homeland SecurityWhat Role for Local Police in Homeland Security? • Emphasis on homeland security has often resulted in reduced community policing funding and efforts • Community policing and homeland security are complementary, not mutually exclusive • Does not have to be an either/or position

16. Using Community Policing with Terrorism • Some elements of community policing are compatible with antiterrorism efforts: • Strategic requirement for geographic focus • Problem solving and SARA • Intelligence Centers or Fusion Centers • Community participation

17. Cybercrime and Community Policing • Cybercrime involves electronic devices and manipulation of data through addition or deletion of files or theft of information • Fastest-growing type of criminal activity in the world • Cybercriminals are no longer amateurs, but are experts • Cybercrimes often exist in both electronic and physical communities • Need to be addressed differently • Need to request assistance from community agencies

18. Applying Science to Policing • Police have begun to break down the walls separating them from academia, often enlisting the help of researchers • Needs to be greater use of scientific models of inquiry such as problem-oriented policing • Science has yet to move to center stage • Most police practices are not systematically evaluated • DARE program • Science must become a natural part of the police mission because it can define practices and programs and it can allow them to assess innovations

19. Militarization of the Police • Question whether or not there can be a dual role: community policing as well as a militaristic orientation • Public wants a public servant, but also wants a protector • National guard units are a military presences during public disasters

20. Transparency and Public Trust • Public is more informed today • Many incidents are being captured on video • Officer conduct and professionalism will continue to be under scrutiny • Online media outlets have gained more acceptance and credibility • Agencies need to make their communication products interesting and relevant so the public will turn the agencies site as a direct source of information

21. Succession Planning • Process whereby police organizations take affirmative steps to plan for filling vacancies they know will exist in key positions • Succession planning requires: • Get the right people on the bus • Get the wrong people off the bus • Get the right people in the right seats • Training officers in leadership skills and development and develop networking opportunities

22. Civilianization • Civilian employees in police organizations is a growing trend • Cost savings • Have less union representation • Should be clearly defined roles for civilian and sworn staff • Repercussions from greater use of civilians

23. Keeping the Focus on Community Policing • Community policing is felt to be quality police service • Some police officers resist and oppose • Views as soft on crime or not real policing • Consistent, progressive leadership is necessary to advance and spread community policing • Must be communicated from leaders to staff • Not be a short-lived program • Policies and procedures must match community policing mission

24. Training • Methods and curricula will continue to evolve • Become more technological and sophisticated • Virtual reality and holographic simulations • Regional training facilities • Greater emphases on physical fitness, and communication skills • Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST)