NCJ Number
127130
Date Published
1990
Length
47 pages
Annotation
Based on a consultation of more than 500 experts in the 10 Canadian Provinces and 2 Territories, this report is intended to stimulate public debate on the future direction of policing in Canada to the year 2000.
Abstract
The current state of policing in Canada is one of transition from a traditional "professional" model of policing toward a community-based approach. There is a consensus that the most appropriate policing response to the emerging trends and problems of the next decade and beyond the year 2000 should involve partnerships with the community, with other public service agencies, and with other segments of the criminal justice system. Building upon these partnerships, cooperation is emerging between elected officials, police managers, and rank-and-file police professionals. Also associated with community policing is a growth of "excellence" in police organizations and police leadership. "Excellence" in policing is promoted by a growing commitment to a shared mission for police organizations and to core values for police professionals. Some impediments to the implementation of this vision of community-based policing are the traditional limited capacity of police agencies to adapt to long-term or emerging problems and the police focus upon reactive responses to problems rather than strategic planning to address emerging problems and trends.