A Community-Oriented Policing Approach

A Community-Oriented Policing Approach

This case highlights the problems of homelessness, public safety, and community worries. Shelter closures and the increased number of homeless individuals have resulted in a greater number of transient populations in public parks. This led to a series of problems, including public intoxication, public defecation, violent incidents, theft, and inappropriate usage of public toilets. The situation at hand brings to the fore an urgent, coherent, and compassionate process to handle the core problems of homelessness as well as to guarantee the safety and welfare of all residents.

With the role of a police manager, solving this problem would require a three-pronged approach, which would be based on the tenets of community-oriented policing (COP). The first vital component of community partnership involves networking with neighborhood organizations, service providers, and community leaders because it is crucial. The cooperation of homeless advocacy groups, social services, and community leaders will enable the police to deeply understand the causes of homelessness and develop coordinated strategies to solve the problem holistically. In addition, these partnerships can identify the existing services and useful resources, including temporary shelters, mental health, and job training, that are available to the homeless (Remster & Brito, 2020).

The second key element of this initiative is organizational transformation, which requires a paradigm shift to a change-oriented culture within the police department. Officers must be trained in trauma-informed methods, de-escalation techniques, and effective communication strategies when engaging with homeless persons (Helfgott et al., 2021). In the third instance, the police should apply a problem-solving approach by engaging relevant stakeholders to identify the main causes of homelessness in the community. These may be identified by using factors such as economic conditions, mental and substance abuse, and the availability of affordable housing (Bittner, 2017).

Implementing these three core components of COP can lead to a more comprehensive and humane approach to addressing homelessness and its associated challenges. By fostering community partnerships, undergoing organizational transformation, and adopting a problem-solving mindset, the police can work towards solutions that not only address public safety concerns but also prioritize the well-being and dignity of homeless individuals.

References

Bittner, J. (2017). Addressing homelessness through community-oriented policing. Police Chief, 84(7), 28-31.

Helfgott, J. B., Kraska, P. B., & Bueermann, J. (2021). Community-oriented policing: A critical approach. Routledge.

Remster, B., & Brito, C. S. (2020). Community-oriented policing to reduce homelessness: A review of the literature. Police Practice and Research, 21(6), 661-678.

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Several large shelters for the homeless in neighboring cities have closed down due to funding problems. With the warm summer weather, there has been a sharp increase in the transient population. Your city’s abundance of parks with 24-hour bathrooms has become a refuge for a variety of homeless and emotionally disturbed persons. Wide-scale complaints are being made regarding drunks sleeping or passing out throughout the park, human feces in public areas, fights, thefts, and several stabbings, as well as the public restrooms being used for bathing and lewd activity. An article in the local newspaper about the problem and citizen discontent was titled, “Hobo Park Needs Help.”

A Community-Oriented Policing Approach

Question for your post:

What is the problem in this situation?
As a police manager, how would you address the problem using COP:
Core Component 1: Community Partnerships
Core Component 2: Organizational Transformation
Core Component 3: Problem Solving