What type of policing prioritizes citizen involvement and problem-solving?

Community-oriented policing is a policing strategy that emphasizes the importance of building strong partnerships between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve. This approach prioritizes citizen involvement by encouraging community members to actively participate in identifying and solving neighborhood problems related to crime and disorder. The goal is to create a collaborative environment where citizens feel empowered to voice their concerns and cooperate with police in addressing issues that affect their quality of life.

In community-oriented policing, officers often engage in proactive outreach, fostering relationships with residents, local organizations, and businesses. This strategy allows police to gain a deeper understanding of community dynamics and develop tailored solutions to specific issues, rather than merely responding to crimes after they occur.

This approach contrasts with traditional policing, which often focuses on a more reactive and enforcement-driven model, addressing crimes primarily after they happen. Reactive policing similarly emphasizes response to incidents rather than prevention, while surveillance-based policing relies heavily on monitoring through technology to deter crime, rather than encouraging community participation and problem-solving.

Ultimately, community-oriented policing works to improve trust and communication between law enforcement and citizens, leading to safer communities through joint efforts in crime prevention and resolution.