NCJ Number
9954
Date Published
1973
Length
58 pages
Annotation
GUIDELINES FOR THE MAXIMUM USE BY COMMUNITY RELATIONS OFFICERS OF THEIR POTENTIAL FOR DISCOVERING AND EASING TENSIONS IN THE COMMUNITY.
Abstract
COMMUNITY RELATIONS PERSONNEL ARE IN AN UNUSUALLY ADVANTAGEOUS POSITION TO AID IN THE PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF COLLECTIVE. COMMUNITY POLICE UNITS ARE MOST ARE MOST EFFECTIVE IN DEVELOPING AND PARTICIPATING IN PROCEDURES FOR PREVENTIVE ACTION BUT CAN ALSO BE OF LIMITED HELP IN THE CONTROL STAGE. IN THE PREVENTION PHASE, THEY CAN LOCATE THE POTENTIAL SOURCES OF VIOLENCE BY FAMILIARIZING THEMSELVES WITH GROUPS OF DISSIDENTS AND ARRANGING MEETINGS WITH GROUP LEADERS TO WORK OUT GRIEVANCES. SUGGESTIONS ARE PROVIDED DEALING WITH DISSIDENTS, AND WHEN AND WHERE TO HOLD THE MOST PRODUCTIVE MEETINGS. ONCE POSSIBLE DISSIDENTS HAVE BEEN LOCATED, THE COMMUNITY POLICE UNIT CAN PLAN ACTIVITIES RELEVANT TO THEIR NEEDS AND INTERESTS. IF THESE GROUPS ARE PLANNING DEMONSTRATIONS, POLICE SHOULD GUIDE THEM IN THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO MAINTAIN ORDER. THESE GUIDELINES STRESS THE NEED FOR TRUST AND MUTUAL AID BETWEEN POLICE AND COMMUNITY LEADERS. THEREFORE, THE POLICE ARE NOT ASKED TO ACT IN AN INVESTIGATIVE CAPACITY. COMMUNITY RELATIONS POLICE CAN TRAIN OTHER OFFICERS IN DETECTION OF APPROACHING VIOLENCE. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT ALL POLICE BE SENSITIVE TO FACTORS WHICH CAUSE DISSATISFACTION AND BECOME INVOLVED IN THE ALLEVIATION OF THOSE FACTORS. THE CONTROL PHASE REQUIRES COMMUNITY POLICE TO PROVIDE PATROL LEADERS WITH INSIGHT INTO THE COMMUNITY TO HELP MINIMIZE VIOLENCE. RELATED VOLUMES COVER GUIDELINES FOR CHIEFS OF POLICE, INTELLIGENCE PERSONNEL, PATROL COMMANDERS, AND PATROL PERSONNEL. (SNI ABSTRACT)