Community Policing

Welcome to the

Junction City Police Department

Community Policing Policy

$Text Box: Understanding Community Policing Community Policing, relies on partnership between the citizens of a jurisdiction and the police that service that population. The cornerstone of the Community Policing philosophy at the Junction City Police Department, is root problem solving. Solving the underlying problem generally reduces or eliminates the problem reoccurring. This frequently takes innovation and patience. Community Oriented Policing is a philosophy and organizational strategy based on customer service and clear, effective communication, which in turn facilitates a problem solving process that deals with the conditions that create problems. The Junction City Police Department has adopted Community Oriented Policing as its operational philosophy. The concept of Community Oriented Policing is frequently utilized by some police agencies as a program, rather than a department wide philosophy. That is not the case in Junction City, where every officer is required to actively engage in the application of Community Oriented Policing principles. However, to truly work, Community Oriented Policing is dependant upon the citizens of a community recognizing and accepting their role in successfully achieving the potential of this working philosophy. The role of the police has undergone a number of changes over the last 100 years. Originally, American law enforcement was modeled after the modern Metropolitan London Police. The role of the police in this model was to do full time that which was every citizen's responsibility, which is to provide for the security, peace and welfare of their community. This charge was never intended to be the sole responsibility of the police. When you think about it, it really doesn't make much sense anyway. Making a fraction of one percent of a community's citizens one hundred percent responsible for its welfare is obviously doomed to failure. Toward the end of the 1920s and early in the 1930s, American law enforcement evolved into a model that we now call the Crime Fighting Model. This model was largely an influence of one person, J. Edgar Hoover, whose vision for the FBI was that of professional crime fighter. This vision had many redeeming qualities. It demanded rigorous training, education, scientific investigation and standards of conduct. The flaw in this model was that it began to eliminate the community from the equation. Initially, the community still had a role in the Crime Fighting Model. Conceptually, the community brought its law enforcement concerns to the police and the police utilized the benefits of their new professionalism to address the problem. Perhaps inevitably, this Crime Fighting Model evolved into a system whereby citizens effectively abdicated their welfare to the police. Both police and citizens agreed that crime fighting was the job of the police and citizens did not have a role except to pay for the service. The police stopped being peace officers and became law enforcement officers. You may even recall hearing someone actually say "That's not my responsibility. That's what I pay the police for." During the years that American law enforcement subscribed to the precepts of the Crime Fighting Model, per capita crime in America increased over 1,000%. Certainly large increases in crime are influenced by population growth and population concentrations, but over 1,000%? The truth is that the Crime Fighting Model was a dismal failure, as it was destined to be. It was largely a reactive function, lacked root problem solution goals, and made a fraction of one percent responsible for their communities' security, peace and welfare. Yet, some of the brightest minds in the country endorsed this model. Community Oriented Policing is a recognition that the citizens of a community have a role and a responsibility in making the community safe and peaceful and protecting its welfare. Both police and citizens have had to admit that the police are not the complete answer. Shear numbers alone should have told us otherwise. This does not mean that every citizen should arm themselves and begin making arrests. Police are trained and equipped to perform most duties in a manner that protects the safety of all concerned, but citizens can and should play a vital role in enhancing the security of their community by getting involved. This would include reporting crimes and suspicious activities, even when not directly involved; being proactive in securing homes and property; not tolerating circumstances that breed criminal conduct; reporting such conduct and being a constructive part of their resolution; actively assisting police, when appropriate, in finding lasting solutions to root problems that contribute to crime. In other words, helping the police treat the disease, not just its symptoms. Community Oriented Policing utilizes the best of the Crime Fighting Model and combines it with the best of law enforcement's original mission. Working as partners, the Junction City Police and our citizens can build a better, safer environment for all of our residents.$

Questions or Concerns Contact

Webmaster, Glennda P Bickley.