In this assignment, we explore the efforts of diverse police departments in easing community tensions and interactions. Most of the tension exists between the police and African-American communities. Several law enforcement agencies are putting much-needed efforts to recruit more diverse forces to re-develop trust with the communities. This way, they can conduct community policing activities without disruptions from other community members. Hiring officers who know and understand the community will also allow for the collection of more genuine information. In turn, police response to violent crimes will be more effective in terms of time and execution. Officers will build better relationships with neighborhoods they serve, reducing officers’ use of aggressive arrest tactics.
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BUILDING BRIDGES BETWEEN POLICE AND COMMUNITIES
Most members of communities of color blame the aggressive police response to violent crimes for the broken relationships between them and the police. Broken trust becomes a challenge because of the police’s overreliance on punitive enforcement, especially for minor transgressions. Officers are unable to conduct regular community policing activities since no one trusts them for safety. Community members may also hide sensitive information regarding crimes in the areas. Over time, the trust between these communities and the police continues to deteriorate. Community tensions and interactions occur amid other issues such as poverty and racism. When making policy changes, those involved must recognize and consider the real-life experiences with community members.
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DIVERSE POLICE DEPARTMENTS, COMMUNITY-BASED POLICING STRATEGIES, AND ACTIVITIES
Law enforcement agencies perform community policing activities in efforts to solve crime and address community concerns. To do this, they heavily rely on the community to report crime and provide vital information about these crimes. Many police departments are working to ease community tensions and interactions. They recognize the importance of working together with the communities as partners. Community policing initiatives are becoming widespread across Canada as well as many other nations. Such initiatives enhance the response to violent crimes massively. Community policing activities involve a move away from centralized police departments that practice reactive policing. The goal is to have more decentralized police structures. Lastly, these structures must emphasize a proactive, problem-solving approach where the police work closely with the communities they serve.
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