Explorations of the Perceived Effect of a Community Engaged Policing Effort

Introduction

Developing and maintaining strong relationships that include trust between the police and community are critical in order to maintain effective policing and public safety. Recent events that have included incidents of excessive force have led to large-scale demonstrations and protests across the United States. In order to avoid and address perceptions of police misconduct, it is important for local police departments to take steps to build trusting relationships with their respective community. Community engaged policing is one approach to developing trusting relationships with the community and has been defined as a philosophic, strategic, and programmatic framework that promotes problem solving, community involvement, and organizational decentralization (Cordner, 1995; Adams, Rohe, & Arcury, 2002). This paper explores the perceived effectiveness of a single community policing effort located in a small urban community termed the Police Activities League (PAL).

Methods

Data collection consisted of three focus groups with youth participants, parents, and police volunteers. There were a total of 22 participants (10 youth, 7 parents, and 5 police volunteers). All data were transcribed and imported into QSR NVivo 10 for analysis. A grounded theory approach (Glaser & Strauss, 1967) was used to analyze the data including forming open codes, axial codes, and finally forming themes. In addition, a post hoc analysis was performed to explore the data using intergroup contact theory.

Results

Three themes emerged from the data including: 1) Strengths and success of PAL, 2) Challenges of PAL, and 3) Recommendations. There were three marked strengths and successes of the PAL program including, improved relationships with police, positive outcomes for the youth participants, and positive outcomes identified for everyone involved. Furthermore, there were two types of challenges of PAL including, time constraints and competing demands, and dual role issues for volunteer police officers. The challenges were expressed as minimal in comparison to the benefits and successes of PAL. The third key finding of the analysis was about future directions and next steps for continued growth of the PAL programs. In addition to the emergent themes, results offered insight relative to the impetus for program involvement by each group explored. Finally, a post hoc analysis using intergroup contact theory offers implications for police and community relationships.

Discussion

Recent events have led to large-scale discussions around the importance of police-community relationships. Part of these discussions should include exploration and understanding of the dynamics of these relationships. This understanding stems from results of evaluations of community engaged policing efforts. Findings from this study offer insight into the perceived benefit of community policing efforts; in addition, post hoc analysis through an intergroup contact theory lens offers insight into the intergroup dynamics. Results bear implications for theory, research and practice.