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Status of Community Policing in American Cities: Facilitators and Impediments Revisited

NCJ Number
176929
Journal
Policing Volume: 22 Issue: 1 Dated: 1999 Pages: 74-92
Author(s)
J Zhao; N P Lovrich; Q Thurman
Date Published
1999
Length
19 pages
Annotation
Data were collected from a representative sample of police agencies in 1993 and again in 1996 to examine the community policing movement in the United States over time.
Abstract
The cities in the sample were selected from municipalities initially included in a representative national survey of police chiefs in cities having a population of over 25,000. The 1993 sample included 215 police agencies, while the 1996 sample included 245 police agencies. The high return rates registered in 1993 and 1996 yielded a sample of 201 police agencies that provided data in both years. There was a 3.6 percent increase in the number of police officers serving the cities and a significant increase in community policing activities. The level of interest in community policing training intensified, and impediments to the adoption of the community policing philosophy became more easily identifiable. Although the change process was quite dynamic over time, the authors believe that the ultimate and widespread institutionalization of community policing remains somewhat uncertain. 54 references, 2 notes, and 5 tables