Community Policing for Mayors: A Municipal Service Model for Community Policing and Beyond

Abstract

Many local elected officials, managers, and community members ask if their agency is a community policing agency. While there are many definitions of community policing, this short document provides some direction by discussing what community policing looks like in practice, how it integrates with traditional policing strategies, and how it relates to the broader government service model. Included are some tips for how elected officials can promote this model locally, and a sample of common strategies that are frequently linked by a broader commitment to the community policing philosophy.