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Crimnology
Defining the “Community” in Community Policing

POLICE EXECUTIVE FORUM

RESEARCH

Defining the “Community” in Community Policing
By Daniel W. Flynn July 1998

This monograph is supported by grant #97-CK-WX-0029 awarded to the Community Policing Consortium by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). Points of view or opinions contained within this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice or the Community Policing Consortium.

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 WHAT IS A COMMUNITY? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 POLICE DEFINITION OF A COMMUNITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 REDEFINING THE COMMUNITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 NON-TRADITIONAL COMMUNITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 THE MAST PROJECT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 THE TRAP PROJECT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 THE SUPERBOWL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 CONCLUSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 REFERENCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Defining the “Community” in Community Policing

i

Introduction hile the precise definition of community policing has been the matter of considerable debate, the fundamental methodology is simple. The police designate a community in which they will engage in problem solving, develop relationships (that hopefully become partnerships)



References: Alpert, Geoffrey P., and Mark H. Moore. 1993. Measuring Police Performance in the New Paradigm of Policing Performance. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Justice. Cordner, Gary W. 1998. Community Policing: Elements and Effects. In Community Policing Contemporary Readings, 3rd Edition, edited by G. Alpert and A. Piquero. Prospect Heights, Ill.: Waveland. Dunham, Roger G., and Geoffrey P. Alpert. 1997. Critical Issues in Policing: Contemporary Readings. Prospect Heights, Ill.: Waveland. Fessler, Donald R. 1976. Facilitating Community Change: A Basic Guide. San Diego University Associate. Hillery, George A., Jr. 1955. Definitions of Community: Areas of Agreement. Rural Sociology 20(4). Manning, Peter K. 1997. Police Work: The Social Organization of Policing. Prospect Heights, Ill.: Waveland. Miami-Dade County. 1993. County Manager’s Task Force on Tourist Safety. Miami, Fla.: author. Miami-Dade Police Department. 1989. Superbowl XXIV Operations Plan. Miami, Fla.: author. Miami-Dade Police Department. 1990. Fiscal Year ’89–’90 Operating Budget. Miami, Fla.: author. Miami-Dade Police Department. 1993. Superbowl XXIX Operations Plan. Miami, Fla.: author. Miami-Dade Police Department. 1994. Fiscal Year ’94–’95 Operating Budget. Miami, Fla.: author. Miami-Dade Police Department. 1996. Marine Advisory Support Team(s) Department Directive. Miami, Fla.: author. Miami-Dade Police Department. 1998. Superbowl XXXIII Operations Plan. Miami, Fla.: author. Defining the “Community” in Community Policing 19 Trojanowicz, Robert C., and Mark H. Moore. 1988. The Meaning of Community in Community Policing. Michigan: The National Center for Community Policing. U.S. Department of Justice. 1993. Measures for the Criminal Justice System. Washington, D.C.: author. Watson, Elizabeth M., Alfred R. Stone, and Stuart M. Deluca. 1998. Strategies for Community Policing. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall. Defining the “Community” in Community Policing 20

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