Three Styles of Policing
------------------------------------------------- Project 1, Memorandum Kirsten Atwood
CRJ 160
Evan Wright
City of Monterey
Inner-office Memorandum
Date: February 29, 2012
To: E.J. Wright, City Manager From: Kirsten Atwood, Chief of Police
Subject: Management of the Monterey Police Department
With my new achievement of Chief of police within the Monterey Police Department, it is my goal to provide this city with the best policing style that I believe will be the most beneficial regarding the everlasting fight on crime here in our city. In order to provide the people of Monterey with the best results of our policing style, it is most important to diagnose the reoccurring problems that have effects on the city and community as a whole such as the shocking homicide rates. As the Chief of Police, it is my duty to understand the three different styles of policing introduced by James Q. Wilson, which include the Watchman Style, the Legalistic Style and the Service Style, and to make my decision on which style I wish to pursue for the Police Department of Monterey, which will ultimately result in the service style.
First, I would like to familiarize everyone with what a policing style is. As Kuykendal (2001) states, “A police style is how each department and officer view their particular mission or purpose and identify with particular methods or techniques to fulfill that purpose. At the departmental level, style reflects the historical legacy of the agency, and to a lesser degree, the socio-demographic characteristics of the population it serves.” Here in Monterey, our mission statement reads as follows, “Responsive to all, second to none every time.” This shows that we deeply care about the citizens residing here in Monterey and respect the fact that they have put their trust in us to serve and protect them as sworn peace officers.
In order to determine a proper style for the city of Monterey, I must first delicately
CRJ 160
Evan Wright
City of Monterey
Inner-office Memorandum
Date: February 29, 2012
To: E.J. Wright, City Manager From: Kirsten Atwood, Chief of Police
Subject: Management of the Monterey Police Department
With my new achievement of Chief of police within the Monterey Police Department, it is my goal to provide this city with the best policing style that I believe will be the most beneficial regarding the everlasting fight on crime here in our city. In order to provide the people of Monterey with the best results of our policing style, it is most important to diagnose the reoccurring problems that have effects on the city and community as a whole such as the shocking homicide rates. As the Chief of Police, it is my duty to understand the three different styles of policing introduced by James Q. Wilson, which include the Watchman Style, the Legalistic Style and the Service Style, and to make my decision on which style I wish to pursue for the Police Department of Monterey, which will ultimately result in the service style.
First, I would like to familiarize everyone with what a policing style is. As Kuykendal (2001) states, “A police style is how each department and officer view their particular mission or purpose and identify with particular methods or techniques to fulfill that purpose. At the departmental level, style reflects the historical legacy of the agency, and to a lesser degree, the socio-demographic characteristics of the population it serves.” Here in Monterey, our mission statement reads as follows, “Responsive to all, second to none every time.” This shows that we deeply care about the citizens residing here in Monterey and respect the fact that they have put their trust in us to serve and protect them as sworn peace officers.
In order to determine a proper style for the city of Monterey, I must first delicately
Cited: Connell. (2008). Can a Community Policing Initiative Reduce Serious Crime: A Local Evaluation Hickman. (2000). Does Community Policing Generate Greater Numbers and Different Types of Citizen Complaints than Traditional Policing? Hillston, K. D. (2002). POLICING STYLES AND ORGANIZATIONAL PRIORITIES: RETESTING WILSON 'S THEORY OF LOCAL POLITICAL Kuykendall, J. L. (2001). STYLES OF COMMUNITY POLICING., 12 (2), pp Weisheit. (1994). Community Policing in Small Town and Rural America. Crime Delinquency, 40 (4), pp