The Challenge of Community Policing: Testing the Promises

Dennis P. Rosenbaum, one of the most important researchers in police and crime prevention matters, has published this collection of original articles outlining the state of evaluative research on American community policing projects for the past decade. All the big names in the field have been included. Among them are John Eck, Mary Ann Wycoff, Wesley Skogan, Robert Trojanowicz, David Bayley, and Mark Moore. . . . This book is unique. If the reader is interested in the contemporary North American point of view on police matters, but has time to read only one book on the subject, we would recommend this book. --André Normandeau in Canadian Journal of Criminology (translated from French) "This is a helpful framework and provides the reader with a focus that is often lacking in edited collections of papers. The Challenge of Community Policing is clear, well structured, and well referenced and provides the reader with a good understanding of the current situation regarding community policing." --Elizabeth Gilchrist in Urban Studies "This book provides an interesting insight into the ways in which progressive police managers are seeking to come to terms with changed times." --Karim Murji in LCCJ Newsletter "Community policing has become the new orthodoxy for police in the United States, as well as in other countries around the world. Although the movement′s philosophies and practices are spreading rapidly, little is known about the range of ongoing activities, the components of these experimental initiatives, the problems and challenges encountered, and the level of success in achieving objectives. Providing a clear picture of national and international trends in progressive police administration. The Challenge of Community Policing explores the cutting edge of this movement with some of the best empirical studies to date. In this volume Dennis Rosenbaum has gathered together the expertise of widely recognized researchers to address the fundamental question of whether community policing is on the road to fulfilling its many promises. Using both quantitative and qualitative methods, the authors present a thorough evaluation of the social and organizational processes involved in planning and implementing community policing, as well as the effects of such programs." --L′Officier de Police Community policing has become the new orthodoxy for police in the United States, as well as in other countries around the world. While the movement′s philosophies and practices are spreading rapidly, little is known about the range of ongoing activities, the components of these experimental initiatives, problems and challenges encountered, and the level of success in achieving objectives. Providing a clear picture of national and international trends in progressive police administration, The Challenge of Community Policing explores the cutting edge of this movement with some of the best empirical studies to date. In this carefully edited volume, Dennis Rosenbaum has gathered together the expertise of widely-recognized researchers to address the fundamental question of whether community policing is on the road to fulfilling its many promises. Using both qualitative and quantitative methods, the authors present a thorough evaluation of the social and organizational processes involved in planning and implementing community policing, as well as the effects of such programs and policies on police personnel, police organizations, citizens, and neighborhood environments. Researchers, practitioners, and policy makers will find that The Challenge of Community Policing skillfully bridges the gap between the theory and everyday practice of community police reform. "In this exceedingly informative collection, Rosenbaum has assembled cogent essays from some of the most respected criminal justice researchers. Contributors examine the experiences of many agencies in the U.S., Canada, and Britain that have adopted the community policing philosophy, candidly describe successes and failures, and provide an assessment of the future. . . . The volume separates fact from fiction and should shorten the learning curve of any law enforcement administrator who seeks to implement this alternative method of policing. Highly recommended for upper-division undergraduates and graduate students. A ′must read′ for law enforcement practitioners and criminal justice faculty." --S. L. Gottlieb in Choice "In The Challenge of Community Policing, Dennis P. Rosenbaum has made an important and timely contribution to policing in America. Important because he has assembled the work of a group of the nation′s most thoughtful and respected researchers on policing that provides a current assessment of the field′s progress toward reframing the way America′s cities are policed. Timely because it comes on the threshold of the greatest infusion of federal dollars into local policing in the history of our nation. The greatest portion of those dollars are dedicated to putting officers on the street to engage in community policing. The Challenge offers considerable insight into the experience of police agencies in America, Canada, and England that have had the courage to move into uncharted waters with the hope of having greater impact on crime, violence, and fear. The complexity of the issues are acknowledged while appropriate cautions and important questions are raised. This book will become a useful tool for researchers and practitioners as more police agencies make serious attempts to work with members of their community in a partnership to solve problems." --Chief Darrel W. Stephens, St. Petersburg, Florida "I recently had the opportunity to review The Challenge of Community Policing by Dennis P. Rosenbaum and found the book to be an excellent resource for both the academic and practitioner. The information is current, presented in a well-balanced manner, and relies on respected scholars who understand the concept of community policing. Given the importance of this movement in police practices, not to mention the central role community policing has in the current federal crime control initiative, The Challenge of Community Policing provides a thorough view of the philosophy and issues. Dr. Rosenbaum′s work is an important contribution to the literature." --David L. Carter, Professor and Director National Center for Community Policing