A case study of the efficacy of community policing in Camden, New Jersey

Community policing initiates a valuable relationship between police and residents. It is often viewed as a problem-solving method of policing. Many police departments across the country have instituted this philosophy into one unit. However, some police administrators have found ways to implement community policing throughout the department. This study was developed to determine the attitudes of both the patrolling community policing officers and the residents to evaluate the efficacy of community policing. The study was also used to determine if the uses of public relations skills increase the officers\u27 ability to communicate effectively with residents of the community. Patrolling officers in the Camden Police Department\u27s Community-Oriented Policing unit were surveyed. Thirty-five surveys were distributed with twenty-five returned and usable. Community members\u27 responses were obtained from a community meeting in one section of the city. Thirty-five surveys were completed and usable. Some findings indicated the officers believe they have increased their ability to effectively communicate with residents. The residents also believe the officers have increased their ability to effectively communicate with the residents. It was also found that the use of public relations practices would improve the relationship between the police and residents