“If arrest is your benchmark for success...it's a failed policy,” said Thomson. That statement right there is a very powerful statement, it shows that while there are still some corrupt officers, for the most part, what leaders in the departments want, is for their communities to not feel hatred toward the officers patrolling the streets. This article talks a lot about what their department was doing to invoke change. I think it was interesting how Coulter talked about rewarding officers for using restraint in instances when deadly force would have been acceptable to use. I think this is an interesting concept because, policing is a hard job and at the end of the day all an officer wants is to get home to his or her family, and by using restraint they could potentially be putting their life at risk. Yet, the officers still do it because they want to make the people of their community feel trust in the police. Piglet456
I agree with you that giving a reward to officers for using restraints when they could have been used lethal force is a good idea. Now the only problem I could see would be an officer deciding to use restraints and then him being hurt or even killed because he chose a different approach when the situation called for something else. But overall I liked the article; it cuts down on the police shootings in the country, helps the officers, and helps with community relations. Birdman789
I think that it is good read what Chief Thompson is doing for his police force; he is not worried about how many arrests that the officers get but how the community acts around the officers. I think that is ingenious way to approach community policing because it is designed to serve the community and make them happy way more than it is focused on getting the arrests. I also think that the emphasized need in using restrains is very useful to the police and the community. For the police officers it means that they have more incentive to use restraint over other types of force like deadly force and they get rewarded if they do choose restraint in a situation that could have called for lethal force. For the community it can be beneficial because it drives the need for officers to make the community happy and it makes it so that they can trust the police because they are more focused on serving them then making the arrest. Birdman789
I agree because I believe he wants to make difference in any communities because he wants the police to be in today's society and not be stuck to the generation they grew up in. Times change. DaBulls456
I think Chief Thomson is on the right path with community policing. Our term paper for Crj 110 was on community policing in Ferguson last semester, and we saw that this style of policing had a great effect on the town. Focusing on the well being of the community, and not just trying to meet a quota for arrests is not only going to make the community feel more comfortable, but it's also going to make the officers more comfortable as well. Officers are often seen as the bad guys because citizens don't interact with them enough, and when there is some form of interaction it is only enough for the officers to be arresting them. The community has to see it's officers as people they can trust and talk to. Community policing would allow the citizens to view the officers as people. The article mentioned that some of the officers wanted change, but when the time came to it they didn't want to take part in making the change happen. These are probably older officers who have been doing this job for a while, who have always gotten praised for having that higher number of arrests. I do think that we need to try and get these officers on board, but I think that we need to start pushing community policing harder onto officers just now joining the force. These are the officers of the future, and these are the ones that are going to need to implement community policing the most. If we talk about it more with these officers they are going to be the ones more open to community policing. -Leilani789
I agree with you that Chief Thomson is on the right path because he seems to have the right principles when it comes to being an effective police force. He seems to understand the importance of making sure the community knows that you are fighting FOR and BESIDE them, rather than AGAINST them. I love the idea of what he is going for. I hope to see this continue in other places and be successful. Cards789
I thought this article was a good standpoint on community policing. When I read the A Modeling 21st century Policing was spot on because the author talks about how in today's century policing needs to be handled and how they need to respond to a certain situation properly. I loved the one statement where it said "Police managers started to give out awards for saving someone's life, not based on how many arrests they have made." I thought that was a true statement because it's based on how you deal with your job in the correct way not just because the police officer busted some drug dealers or respond to other calls. Another statement I thought was a good one was "The things that matter most can't be quantified." I thought that was a good point to come across. I think if every police officer could get that in there head they can view the community in a different aspect. DaBulls456
I agree with you about how the commanding officers rewarding officers by saving a life instead of taking one is a good thing. I think that it could put an officer in the situation that deals with the possible use of lethal force it gives a different way for the officer to handle the situation; even though they could use lethal force if they find a non-lethal way to deal with the situation instead they are rewarded so they have more incentive to think outside the box. Birdman123
I agree, I think the future is community policing. I believe there are so many situations as a police officer that they could solve as a cop just by using the community policing method of policing. As police departments start to use community policing more and more communities will change with the police as well. GRUNT123
I think that after reading this article it is a good look at the police going back to community policing and with the recent events that have happened throughout the year like Ferguson or Baltimore it is great that we are going back to serving the community and making them happy. There is a lot of tension between police and the community around the country and tighter relations could help loosen that tension that has been building up. What Chief Thompson is doing for the Camden police for, I believe, is great; he is telling his officers to not worry about how many arrests they are making but focus on the community they are working with. I also think that pushing the officers towards restraints is a great idea as well; if the officers are being rewarded for restraining someone instead of taking lethal action then when a situation like that does come up then they could prevent shooting a person even though the situation could call for it; thus lowering the controversy with police shootings that has been such a hot button topic over the past few years. Birdman123
I agree with you that we need to go back to community policing. It is a more effective form of policing and allows the officers to police in the most effective way. It also builds better relationships between officers and the citizens which is a good thing becuase they will be more willing the help the officers when they need it. dragons789
I agree with you. Community policing is the best thing for police officers. Being a police officer isn't about holding a gun. its about really knowing your communities and the people who reside there. -dicaprio789
I think chief Thompson made a good point when he said he is not looking at their outputs but he's looking at the outcomes. Its not about how many people you arrest, its more about helping the people with the problem they are having and resolving it in other ways then just arresting people. I also think the Camden police eliminating their force and using one run by the county was a good ideas because they could focus on community policing more. Before they were just arresting their way out of problems but now they use other resources to solve the problem so they don't have to arrest the people unless they absolutely have to. I like the statement " police managers have started giving out awards for saving someone’s life, not based on how many arrests were made" because you could have a bigger impact on someones life by helping them deal with the problem they are having in another way then just arresting them. If you help someone with a drug problem by taking them to rehab and getting them the proper resources they need instead of just taking them to jail, the ones who get the proper resources will be more likely to stop their drug problem because in jail they don't get the proper resources. dragons789
The outcome is what we need to focus on. We are not here to write tickets and get people in trouble we are here to help them to keep them safe to be there when no one else will. Rewards for saving someone's life is a great idea im a full supporter on that. Godzilla789
I think the chief said a good and powerful statement. If arresting people is your only things you want to do while you're a Police Officer, I think you've picked the wrong field. Yes, as a Police Officer, you have arrest people, and write people tickets. But, at the same time you have to give back to your community, and help the community out in any type of way possible. Make sure the citizens in your district see you, not only see you when you are at the house on a call. The present of the police is very important to people. As a police officer, you're not only a police officer, you're a mentor, a social worker, and in a way, a teacher. The article was very well explained, and set out a good message to police officers, and people who are interested in becoming a police officer. Your goal should not be to jus go out and arrest people. But, that's your job to prevent crime. And, arresting people will be something you have to do. But, it should not be your goal. When I read this article it makes mew think different to policing when I began my career, in a good way.
I agree with you. I think the article was very well explained, and broken down good. I do think that it doesn't matter how many people you have arrested, but how many people lives you have changed/or impacted. I agree, that an arrest shouldn't be made unless you really have to. Just seeing if a person is okay and talking to them can change the way they look at police officers now. The little things, can change someone's life.
I absolutely loved this article. It allowed me to have insight on the impact of the way the community views the police force in the community. Based on what I know from personal experience, I assume that most people dislike the police, but this idea focuses on reinforcing the fact that police are on the side of the civilians, and are there to protect them, rather than create more problems for them. Unfortunately, most people in today's society are more fearful of the police than they are reliable on them. I believe that what Chief Thomson is trying to accomplish, will enable communities everywhere to understand that police officers are trying to help in every situation possible. Hopefully, Thomson and other officers will hopefully be able to convince communities that not all police officers are bad, and that some really want to look out for the citizens. This is an important consideration in today's society due to the severe hatred many people have toward the police. Cards789
I agree whole-heartedly with Thomson when he said that if arrest is your benchmark for success, then you have a failed policy. I think that it is time to adapt to our changing environment and really address policies that may not work anymore. It will take quite a bit of time to get everyone onboard with this new perspective, but I know that it is very worthwhile. It was stated in the article that it takes four to fourteen positive experiences with police to recover from a single negative one. This spoke to me because it shows how one negative interaction can damage public perception of police and how hard it is to recover from that. Community policing means a lot to me because I plan on becoming a police officer and I want to always be sure that the public views me in a positive way to make my shifts a little easier. Blues456
I agree that it is hard to come back from one negative interaction. It completely changes the public's view on law enforcement. This is felt directly by the police officers on patrol as they become the primary target of backlash. It would be much easier to do the job if the public had a positive view of law enforcement. DeadMan456
This article was very well explained. I agree with what cheif thomson is trying to accomplish. Community policing is very important I think its the great way to police. In this day and age i know many people are not fond of police officers because of all the shootings that happened in 2014. But I also think not a lot of people understand what it's really like to be a police officer. It's not an easy job you never know if your going to come home that night or at least you want to come home. Cops need to be more involved in their communities getting to know the people you police can change the game. Being a police office isn't about arresting people or using your gun. its about helping people in their crises and in their times of need. Your going to meet so many people along the way that are just simply having a bad day. You need to be able to deal with so may different kinds of people going through different struggles who come from different backgrounds. This article was very spot on, on what they are trying to accomplish. We all know that it won't happen over night, but it's possible. Its going to take some time for some of the public to view officers in a different positive way again, but it can happen. The little things really can make the biggest impact. -dicaprio 789
First of all Gratz on the Oscar Dicaprio Revenant was fricking awesome! I concur with your assessment of the time it will take. "the little things really can make the biggest impact" thats deep. I like it. The article said something about '4-14 positive interactions to recover from a single bad incident.' At that rate its going to take an astronomical amount of time. This may be easier after the culture around policing changes and the community views the job as a necessity without associating it with so much violence. Doberman789
I thought that this was a really great article. I am a firm believer in the way Chief Thompson is running things. if the community and the police are friends then you are going to have a safe productive community. If you have people that are afraid to go out because they might get arrested is no better then the Nazi Germany. Chief Thompson said you need to set your goal on something like helping the community instead of writing tickets. Society changes all the time and so do the laws and for our society to be a great one then every part of the community needs to change and go with the flow so everything is smooth. You cant have citizens that are keeping up with society and the police still in the colonial times it just wouldn't work Chief Thompson said that the policing needs a "culture change". Godzilla789
I like the way you described the things chief Thompson is doing things. I completely agree with you on the way he is doing things is the right way. But I would say we are still a little better than Germany in the World War two. Jfl789
In this article talks about the way we need to start policing. The more community-focused approach is better than the tough on crime approach. Because the police relations need to be better as a whole. In the beginning of the article Chief Thompson said this I am not looking for output I am looking for outcome. He then went on say a few more things and then ended up saying lastly go make it happen. I love this section in the article because it shows the way we need to be thinking through out the criminal just field. Its up to you to do good and the right thing even when no one is looking. It also talks about the response of outrage of the deaths of African Americans by cops. And the different recommendations that need to be put in place. Which will most likely be done in in the next 15 to 20 years because chiefs don’t want to look at it because of president Obama Jfl789
OK, Let's start out with a quote from the late great Sir. Robert Peel: "...the police are the public, and the public are the police...". Where to start. The 'hit the reset button' and completely eliminating the police force and revamping into the county department! Wow, complete jaw dropper there. That sounds crazy, but doable. I was under the impression they were going to do something like this in Ferguson after reading our article a few weeks back. The question would be who from the old law enforcement office was rehired or 'reabsorbed' into the pool of employment. If you’re not from the community that you are hired to police you should make it a priority to drag your butt out of your cruiser and pound some pavement. Do this in order to immerse yourself. Better protect the people by building relationships with your community. We as criminal justice students and future degree holders need to adjust the popular opinion of the police officer, we need to humanize this position. This can be made possible through making police accessible. Make them more accessible outside of interacting during a reactive call. If you don’t know your community the only thing your good for is pulling people over and writing tickets. The majority of calls police officers take are service calls. ‘To Serve and Protect’ that thing ☺??? Community policing is about getting out and ‘mingling’ with the people you are paid by to protect their persons and property. The homeless are a part of your community and should have some time spent discussing resources they could utilize. Be proactive! I dated a gal years back that used that ‘proactive’ term so much I wanted to superman punch something when I heard it but it applies here. L.E.O.s are getting a bad rap lately. Some of them deserve it, while some don’t. Like all things. All in all, the people of the community need to relate more with the local police. It states in the article that crime doesn’t go down with community policing. I get that. I bet it would easier to get a criminal in the jail if you had the helping hand of the community where the violation, assault, or shooting happened. If you knew who was in the talking mood or not you could close a case quicker. Canvasing would be less painful and people might be more cooperative. Hand out treats to the kids during the summer. Mentor them from time to time in after school programs. See how people are feeling when they are outside. Say hello, wave at them from time to time. Stop the youth just to do ‘wellness’ checks. Don’t shake them down every time. I want my daughter to know she can go up to a police officer when she feels like something is wrong. These things aren’t going to kill you. And if they would this wasn’t the job for you in the first place. Frank Rizzo: no disrespect but my mind went right to the Jerky Boys. Doberman789
This is a really great response to the article, there is a lot here. I agree with you about hitting the reset button with the police force. Getting a fresh start may be hard, but it is doable. A fresh start could really benefit the police force because it can exposed and help them fix a lot of their problems. All the points made can be used to have a better understanding of what community policing is and how it works.
Man, you just nailed everything in this article and more. Hitting the reset button would allow us all to reinvent the wheel and understand what we are here to do the oaths that the officers have taken as well as what it means to serve the community while enforcing it also. We have become so closed in our emotions with one an another which is sad.
Wow! Awesome job, you articulate very well. I agree that should have been an approach that Ferguson took after everything that actually happened. Evolutionary roots of community policing where the community and the police actually had an unbreakable relationship and things that were happening that were bad were not so reoccurring because of this particular bond. Forensics123
Renovating police work in this century could take up to 15 to 20 years like the artical had stated. And that is what kinda stops me in my tracks. It shouldn't take that long to be honest. I liked the idea of having as many cops on the street as possible the more out there the more they can stop crime and produce a better viewing of the police in that community. But then again the other have of me sees it as every body in these neighborhoods thinks of the police as the enemy so why should the police be trying to better their behaviors and lower their arrest rates in a community that can be considered hostile or extremely dangerous. I feel as if the police lighten up the ropes a little bit the community is going to take all it can and run with it and not be able to protect anymore do to the lack of police presence bikemaker456
I like what you had to say. I think the community would either run with it, like you said, or maturely understand the cops are making a difference and maybe they would change too. A lot of me wants to the police would just be taken advantage of in this situation. Which could be true, but would the community benefit from it? The main point I got from the article was to change the mindset or paradigm of the officers on patrol. Don’t look for arrests, look for positive outcomes. While I am aware that a police officer needs to be conscious of whether he/she should make an arrest, they could have that in the back of they’re mind as a last resort and focus on making a difference first. This would be hard in today’s society only because police officers are still being shot. This would take work from both the community and the police force. Twal456
I like how he said he wanted to see the outcomes instead of outputs. It really makes sense, because a police officers duty is not to arrest as many people as they possibly can, but to make the city a better and safer place to be in. I think that is awesome that a police chief told that to his staff. But it asked in the article if it is possible to see in a larger city. That I am simply stumped on because with a bigger city comes a lot of criminals. I feel like you would have to have a lot of 'outputs' to see the 'outcome' in this case. Because you would have to have people understand that you just want a safer place for them and their family just like them. -Ibanez789
I liked this article. My thoughts on the topic are both positive and negative. I think the fact that police departments, as a whole want to change to better the community is a very positive thing. I really liked hearing the idea on changing the goal from arrests to outcomes. When I think of a police officers duty to the public, I think of helping the people within the community in every aspect. I know officers need a quota to show they are doing they're job, but where is the quota shown when an officer does something small to help somebody? The only negative vibes I got from this article would be police officers not actually doing they're jobs when it comes to arrests. There still needs to be fear in the community so that people don’t go out and commit crimes left and right. If the officers got too comfortable with the community, it could cause problems. I think finding a healthy medium is essential to this idea working. Overall I think it is great that officers want to change to make a difference. Twal456
I can understand how you may feel a bit uncomfortable with the police becoming too relaxed within the community. For me, I could see this happening but only in very rare instances. The police would develop communications with the community in order to not only socialize but develop that bond with everyone. This I would assume means, the children, the elderly, and everyone in between; not just the good citizens but also with families and people who may know affiliations to gangs or drug-runners. The police would have to keep a clean conscience when socializing though, because as you may have assumed, a drug dealer could completely lead a certain group of police officers astray while they do a huge drug run at the opposite side of town. That would definitely be a cause for alarm. Maybe, again an assumption, it is better to know your enemy. - StrongArm789
I agree with you that there needs to be some fear in the community to a certain extent so that people aren't out thinking that the officers aren't doing their jobs and letting them commit crime. However, I also agree that giving the officers an incentive for doing something good would greatly help the officers adjust to change. Like it said in the article a lot of officers refuse to or do not like change in the system. The system should not be revolved around "arresting their way out of the problem." sparks123
Yes a better relationship with the community helps stabilize many problems that effect our upcoming youth, the elderly that live alone, single mothers and fathers, and both parent households. We have to protect our future along worth theirs. Yet the police have to better with working on their attitudes how they address certain situations and talk to people. Forensics123
This article really shows how effective community policing can really be. Chief Scott Thomson is doing a really great job and is taking a step in the right direction with community policing. I thought the part talking about rewarding officers for arresting people instead of using deadly in a situation where deadly force could have been used. I agree that it is a good idea, but it really makes you thing about how society has changed and what kind of society we live in. We are rewarding police officers for not killing somebody. Its weird if you think about it.
I agree that the idea of rewarding officers with helping people out more than how many people you arrest is really taking the initiative the police need in order to start this process. With more officers doing good in the communities the more people will feel comfortable and might potentially lower the crime rate due to how the community views its police department.
Community policing should be placed as the number one priority in all police departments across the United States. IF every prescient made an attempt to get their officers on board with this it could change how Americans view the police to a more positive manner. When you turn on the news you always see some bad story where a cop did something so bad that it makes every day citizens afraid to talk or associate with the police. Right now in America police are viewed most commonly as a threat instead of a person who is going to help you out and with the help of community policing this stereotype could be put to shame and bring along better thoughts and opinions of the police.
The title of the article is “Reinventing America’s Police Forces” and used Camden, NJ as the model for the new philosophy of policing. It also referred to a national report titled Task Force on 21st Century Policing and Camden was cited as an example of what the task force envisioned. I found it ironic that Jerry Radcliff was quoted as saying “there is nothing in this report (Task Force) that is enforceable (at the federal level) because of America’s decentralized government. Isn’t it a contradiction of terms to have community policing controlled at the federal level? It is community policing because local departments should aware of the problems in their community and figure out the best way to resolve them. We do not need a one size fits all solution from someone who doesn’t even live in our community. It is possible that the Camden model may not be the blueprint for all departments and modifications may need to be made to reflect local conditions and political realities. I would rather have a police chief appointed by a mayor than one appointed by a federal bureaucrat. Humvee123
I didn't even think about the contradictory that was pointed out above. Also, I like how you support your thoughts with the title of the article and bring up the Task Force on the 21st Century Policing. But I think this is a good plan because it is making a happier community and bringing less hate towards the officers. ICCRunner789
This theory in thought, of taking a bottom-up approach rather than a top-down approach, may be exactly what many police or tactical forces need in order to reestablish a stronger foothold with crime in this current age. Many structures have remained the same and found themselves growing into a type of stagnation. Stagnation is unhealthy in every sense because it leads to apathy. The police are writing citations based off a monthly quota in order to meet requirements, but they have done so in order to meet the demands of what they do. As Thomson state, “It’s a paradox.” I have always felt that if you have more interaction between the officials and the communities they protect than crime will decline. Many communities, especially in these troubled areas, see cops as power-hungry; they thrive on making arrests with little to go on other than suspicious allegations. When you have a police force who act upon social factors and have a rapport built up, the citizens will notice and determine that they do in fact care about who it is they protect. The known negating factors cause cops to target drug dealers, users, or other possible criminals as prey, as to lead them into a trap, just like trying to meet a quota. This will cause the community to fear the police and also turn on the defensive anytime they see them, not just in their own communities but anywhere they go. This is also the most provocative stance that media plays when analyzing police activity through the lens of a camera. Society is in a mantra of ‘well, it’s then end of the month, time to drive/act safer.’ The title of this blog refers to the period of 1830. However, this is now a day and age where everyone is watching. Thomson’s ideas are great and though they are at the bottom, this model may invert the whole paradigm. This initial idea can build up trust that has been lost through unnecessary targeting of criminals just based off of suspected predispositions. When the community is at a stance with the police, the individuals will fear committing any type of possible crime. - StrongArm789
I really like the way officer Scott Thomson told his officers that he’s not looking at how many arrests they make but rather what the outcome is instead. I think that is great policing. His idea of people sitting out on their pouches and kids riding bikes around the towns sounds like a nice place to live so sounds like the chief is heading in the right direction. I think it is a great idea to change the way a department is use to. Arresting people every time the police show up makes the police look like that’s all they can do. Talking to people and maybe getting them help instead of just arresting them is the way to go in my eyes. More people would rather seek out the police then get scared when they come. GRUNT123
I feel as if though community policing can and does play a major role in law enforcement today. A lot of people to no matter the race, no matter innocent or guilty, they still get edgy when a cop is around. Sometimes they may not feel like they can trust them or that they are only there to get the person in trouble. This is not always the case however. “If arrest is your benchmark for success...it's a failed policy.” Thompson said this in the article and I quite frankly think this is a wise outlook to have. If an officer actually gets out and engages in activities throughout the community and or even does the smallest thing to help a person out such as a kind gesture, then the community will less likely judge the officer in a bad way. The simplest of things can help. By acting with the community instead of against it can help reduce crime majorly. For instance, if an officer makes kind respectful gestures towards a person or persons in the community then it may lead the community member into dropping hints about crime that could or is occurring. Sparks123
I totally agree with everything that you said! No matter who someone is everyone is likely to be nervous when there is a police officer around. Even someone that knows they did nothing wrong they are going to be like this as well. Green123
This article is a good one for everyone to read. I liked when he was saying if arresting people is your main goal then your basically failing at your job. This job as a police officer is to help others. That is the way that I look at this job. A lot of people say that police are not trying to help everyone. In some cases you are going to get the ones that are just trying to arrest everyone that they can get their hands on which is not right. However we have more officers that do good than bad. I also liked when Thompson stated that he wants to see children outside riding their bikes and people sitting on their porch. If officers can help make the people in their community feel safe and like they are there to help them the officers are going to see this more often. I enjoyed reading this article! Green123
This was a very interesting article. I really enjoy the fact that Chief Thomson is working on the community and its relationship with the officers instead of trying to make arrests. He really is trying to avoid making arrests and having there be a set number of goals to reach by the end of the month or something along those lines. He is trying to make the community like the officers which is much more strategic compared to arresting all the people doing dumb stuff. It is much smarter to have a happy community because that means less violence and hate towards the officers. If you are just arresting a ton of people, chances are the majority of the community is probably going to say "The cops are dicks in this town!" because all they is the arrests and not the service that the officers of that town are actually doing.
This was a great article. I think the focus of this article could potentially be helpful to police departments all around the country. Focus on your relationship with the community over arrest numbers. With the focus being on number of arrests that will just lead to throwing someone in jail just for them to get out and repeat the process. That doesnt have a very positive effect on the community. With high numbers of arrests there tends to be more arrests that were carried out in a unprofessional matter. If officers focus more on public safety and arrest those types of criminals the outcome will be more influential to the whole city. gabegun123
Its true that focusing on the outcome of an arrest instead of how many can I arrest will lead to more convictions and not only that but ones worth pursuing not just a couple kids skipping school kind of thing. How they arrest someone would lead to better communication or less resistance if maybe restrained like Thompson was saying instead of using violence. wreked123
“One thing you find in policing is generally people won’t like the way things are, but don’t want change either." This resonates well with where we are at with all the changes in the system. The older officers are still serving with the old mindset reluctant to change. The article said that there is only 2% of high speed chases and foot chases on the job the rest is service calls. Now don't get me twisted every city is different and it will change if your State Police or Municipality. The article focused on municipalities by emphasizing that our focus needs to be HELP your neighbors. I did like the picture he painted when describing the children out and about int the neighborhood riding their bicycles and doing what kids do opposed to them being scared of police officers and feeling uneasy around them. We need to show more compassion towards each other especially our youth!
I agree. The picture he painted of the children and safety of the community was quite powerful. Once the people of communities feel safe and secured by the police, they may become more open to the police. The police should be considered a beacon of moral values and justice, not just those people who pull me over or beat me if I don't comply with them. Silverado789
This article is definitely a good example on how policing should be done and explaining why. Community policing is something we haven't had to much of or cant see due to only violent acts or negative views that is covered. Chief Thompson is setting a good example for his officers and others by telling them his goal is not how many arrest they make but the outcome of the arrest. Police officers need guidance to see like that since get touch on crime laws is how most is being policed. Wreked123
I really liked how he said that it should be based on how many people you save not the number of arrests you make. The object of community policing is to protect the citizens not arrest every offender you cab find for an arrest-able offence. And it also touches on the dilemma police face after an incident. Just one bad incident involving law enforcement can take 4 to 14 good incidents to make up for it. All in all a good article. DeadMan456
I agree with the fact they should not be focused on the amount of arrests they have to make. That to me is silly. That is how officers have a bad reputation. Most teenagers think officers will pull you over for something stupid and that usually is true. I was going three over the speed limit once and got pulled over and ticketed. It is not about the amount of arrests but the quality of what you made the arrest on. In other words you should be arresting more people who area danger to others and help save lives than focus and worry about your quota. Extreme456
I think there is too many cops that want the gun and the badge for power and authority. The lack things in life and they want to make up for it by becoming a cop. This leads to over abusing the systems and making petty arrests. These guys can often be mean and make the criminals want to abuse the system even more. I think when departments hire they should tailor their tests to pick the individuals that have a personality to fit community policing. The US is stronger when our communities are stronger. Music 456
" I am not looking at your outputs, I am looking at your outcomes" I am personally glad to see this quote written in the article by Thompson. This means a step forward for policing. Officers should not be so worried about meeting their quota at the end of the year but instead worrying about how you can make the streets a safer place for children and a community without petty little arrests. When officers do that the community puts it in their heads that officers are mean. That is not how we should be viewed. I like how in the article as well that it mentions officers who save lives get an award. This is a great method. Officers will then start to save lives and see what really matters about policing instead of just trying to meet the amount of arrests to keep their jobs. Another part of the article says general Laurie Robinson offered fifty-nine recommendations for the police district including police diversity, better training, smart use of technology, and great accountability and transparency in law enforcement policies and practices. The problem with policing these days is that the officers are taught to shoot first and get certain amount of arrests done. However; if they follow these recommendations I am highly confident that they will see results in the way the community and other officers act and view themselves. This was an interesting article to read and I am glad I did. Extreme456
I was so exhilarated to hear the chief of police in Camden say they want outcomes and not arrests. The police should not instill fear into the hearts of the individuals in the community that they operate. This causes nothing but issues. The idea of keeping the community safe, yet united should be the number one priority in the mindset of the police officers around the country. When a community is more united and secure, there is less crime and problems in general. The awards presented to officers for community work is much more supportive than an award for arrests. Why award an officer for making more arrests? This only offers the mindset that arrests are good to the police. We should not throw parties for those who sent ten more people to prison than the next officer. Community based policing would offer more transparency and trust from community members. Overall, community based policing would be more advantageous compared to the us versus them mindset that many may view.
Policing based on how many arrests can cause all sorts of problems. Yes, arrests when needed are good, but being over excessive and having "quotas" cause a lot of unrest. Today we live in a very divided country, racially speaking and any sort of wrong move by law enforcement sets off people. We dont need the people to view officers as the bad guys and as guys who just want to blow off some steam. America is strongest when our communities are strong, and our communities are strong through the right kind of policing. We need to let the people know that cops are here to protect and promote the community. Too many people are living in fear of the police, due to what the media puts out these days. I think we can eliminate the bad apples by having proper training with community at its core. Music 456.
I agree that we should go back to our evolutionary roots of community policing where the community and the police actually had an unbreakable relationship and things that were happening that were bad were not so reoccurring because of this particular bond. “When we drive through the neighborhood we want to see little kids riding on their bicycles and people sitting on their front steps. So go make that happen.” I agree that we should actually make this happen again. Instead of it being a constant war and high levels of animosity between the community and police. The world would be a bit safer and the crime rates would be lower. Because one law enforcement breaks trust bonds with the community murders go cold and many crimes go unsolved. Forensics123
“If arrest is your benchmark for success...it's a failed policy,” said Thomson. That statement right there is a very powerful statement, it shows that while there are still some corrupt officers, for the most part, what leaders in the departments want, is for their communities to not feel hatred toward the officers patrolling the streets. This article talks a lot about what their department was doing to invoke change. I think it was interesting how Coulter talked about rewarding officers for using restraint in instances when deadly force would have been acceptable to use. I think this is an interesting concept because, policing is a hard job and at the end of the day all an officer wants is to get home to his or her family, and by using restraint they could potentially be putting their life at risk. Yet, the officers still do it because they want to make the people of their community feel trust in the police. Piglet456
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that giving a reward to officers for using restraints when they could have been used lethal force is a good idea. Now the only problem I could see would be an officer deciding to use restraints and then him being hurt or even killed because he chose a different approach when the situation called for something else. But overall I liked the article; it cuts down on the police shootings in the country, helps the officers, and helps with community relations. Birdman789
DeleteI think that it is good read what Chief Thompson is doing for his police force; he is not worried about how many arrests that the officers get but how the community acts around the officers. I think that is ingenious way to approach community policing because it is designed to serve the community and make them happy way more than it is focused on getting the arrests. I also think that the emphasized need in using restrains is very useful to the police and the community. For the police officers it means that they have more incentive to use restraint over other types of force like deadly force and they get rewarded if they do choose restraint in a situation that could have called for lethal force. For the community it can be beneficial because it drives the need for officers to make the community happy and it makes it so that they can trust the police because they are more focused on serving them then making the arrest. Birdman789
ReplyDeleteI agree because I believe he wants to make difference in any communities because he wants the police to be in today's society and not be stuck to the generation they grew up in. Times change. DaBulls456
DeleteI think Chief Thomson is on the right path with community policing. Our term paper for Crj 110 was on community policing in Ferguson last semester, and we saw that this style of policing had a great effect on the town. Focusing on the well being of the community, and not just trying to meet a quota for arrests is not only going to make the community feel more comfortable, but it's also going to make the officers more comfortable as well. Officers are often seen as the bad guys because citizens don't interact with them enough, and when there is some form of interaction it is only enough for the officers to be arresting them. The community has to see it's officers as people they can trust and talk to. Community policing would allow the citizens to view the officers as people. The article mentioned that some of the officers wanted change, but when the time came to it they didn't want to take part in making the change happen. These are probably older officers who have been doing this job for a while, who have always gotten praised for having that higher number of arrests. I do think that we need to try and get these officers on board, but I think that we need to start pushing community policing harder onto officers just now joining the force. These are the officers of the future, and these are the ones that are going to need to implement community policing the most. If we talk about it more with these officers they are going to be the ones more open to community policing.
ReplyDelete-Leilani789
I agree with you that Chief Thomson is on the right path because he seems to have the right principles when it comes to being an effective police force. He seems to understand the importance of making sure the community knows that you are fighting FOR and BESIDE them, rather than AGAINST them. I love the idea of what he is going for. I hope to see this continue in other places and be successful. Cards789
DeleteI thought this article was a good standpoint on community policing. When I read the A Modeling 21st century Policing was spot on because the author talks about how in today's century policing needs to be handled and how they need to respond to a certain situation properly. I loved the one statement where it said "Police managers started to give out awards for saving someone's life, not based on how many arrests they have made." I thought that was a true statement because it's based on how you deal with your job in the correct way not just because the police officer busted some drug dealers or respond to other calls. Another statement I thought was a good one was "The things that matter most can't be quantified." I thought that was a good point to come across. I think if every police officer could get that in there head they can view the community in a different aspect. DaBulls456
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about how the commanding officers rewarding officers by saving a life instead of taking one is a good thing. I think that it could put an officer in the situation that deals with the possible use of lethal force it gives a different way for the officer to handle the situation; even though they could use lethal force if they find a non-lethal way to deal with the situation instead they are rewarded so they have more incentive to think outside the box. Birdman123
DeleteI agree, I think the future is community policing. I believe there are so many situations as a police officer that they could solve as a cop just by using the community policing method of policing. As police departments start to use community policing more and more communities will change with the police as well.
DeleteGRUNT123
I think that after reading this article it is a good look at the police going back to community policing and with the recent events that have happened throughout the year like Ferguson or Baltimore it is great that we are going back to serving the community and making them happy. There is a lot of tension between police and the community around the country and tighter relations could help loosen that tension that has been building up. What Chief Thompson is doing for the Camden police for, I believe, is great; he is telling his officers to not worry about how many arrests they are making but focus on the community they are working with. I also think that pushing the officers towards restraints is a great idea as well; if the officers are being rewarded for restraining someone instead of taking lethal action then when a situation like that does come up then they could prevent shooting a person even though the situation could call for it; thus lowering the controversy with police shootings that has been such a hot button topic over the past few years. Birdman123
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that we need to go back to community policing. It is a more effective form of policing and allows the officers to police in the most effective way. It also builds better relationships between officers and the citizens which is a good thing becuase they will be more willing the help the officers when they need it. dragons789
DeleteI agree with you. Community policing is the best thing for police officers. Being a police officer isn't about holding a gun. its about really knowing your communities and the people who reside there. -dicaprio789
DeleteI think chief Thompson made a good point when he said he is not looking at their outputs but he's looking at the outcomes. Its not about how many people you arrest, its more about helping the people with the problem they are having and resolving it in other ways then just arresting people. I also think the Camden police eliminating their force and using one run by the county was a good ideas because they could focus on community policing more. Before they were just arresting their way out of problems but now they use other resources to solve the problem so they don't have to arrest the people unless they absolutely have to. I like the statement " police managers have started giving out awards for saving someone’s life, not based on how many arrests were made" because you could have a bigger impact on someones life by helping them deal with the problem they are having in another way then just arresting them. If you help someone with a drug problem by taking them to rehab and getting them the proper resources they need instead of just taking them to jail, the ones who get the proper resources will be more likely to stop their drug problem because in jail they don't get the proper resources. dragons789
ReplyDeleteThe outcome is what we need to focus on. We are not here to write tickets and get people in trouble we are here to help them to keep them safe to be there when no one else will. Rewards for saving someone's life is a great idea im a full supporter on that. Godzilla789
DeleteI think the chief said a good and powerful statement. If arresting people is your only things you want to do while you're a Police Officer, I think you've picked the wrong field. Yes, as a Police Officer, you have arrest people, and write people tickets. But, at the same time you have to give back to your community, and help the community out in any type of way possible. Make sure the citizens in your district see you, not only see you when you are at the house on a call. The present of the police is very important to people. As a police officer, you're not only a police officer, you're a mentor, a social worker, and in a way, a teacher. The article was very well explained, and set out a good message to police officers, and people who are interested in becoming a police officer. Your goal should not be to jus go out and arrest people. But, that's your job to prevent crime. And, arresting people will be something you have to do. But, it should not be your goal. When I read this article it makes mew think different to policing when I began my career, in a good way.
ReplyDeletePolice456
I agree with you. I think the article was very well explained, and broken down good. I do think that it doesn't matter how many people you have arrested, but how many people lives you have changed/or impacted. I agree, that an arrest shouldn't be made unless you really have to. Just seeing if a person is okay and talking to them can change the way they look at police officers now. The little things, can change someone's life.
ReplyDeletePolice 456
I absolutely loved this article. It allowed me to have insight on the impact of the way the community views the police force in the community. Based on what I know from personal experience, I assume that most people dislike the police, but this idea focuses on reinforcing the fact that police are on the side of the civilians, and are there to protect them, rather than create more problems for them. Unfortunately, most people in today's society are more fearful of the police than they are reliable on them. I believe that what Chief Thomson is trying to accomplish, will enable communities everywhere to understand that police officers are trying to help in every situation possible. Hopefully, Thomson and other officers will hopefully be able to convince communities that not all police officers are bad, and that some really want to look out for the citizens. This is an important consideration in today's society due to the severe hatred many people have toward the police. Cards789
ReplyDeleteI agree whole-heartedly with Thomson when he said that if arrest is your benchmark for success, then you have a failed policy. I think that it is time to adapt to our changing environment and really address policies that may not work anymore. It will take quite a bit of time to get everyone onboard with this new perspective, but I know that it is very worthwhile. It was stated in the article that it takes four to fourteen positive experiences with police to recover from a single negative one. This spoke to me because it shows how one negative interaction can damage public perception of police and how hard it is to recover from that. Community policing means a lot to me because I plan on becoming a police officer and I want to always be sure that the public views me in a positive way to make my shifts a little easier.
ReplyDeleteBlues456
I agree that it is hard to come back from one negative interaction. It completely changes the public's view on law enforcement. This is felt directly by the police officers on patrol as they become the primary target of backlash. It would be much easier to do the job if the public had a positive view of law enforcement. DeadMan456
DeleteThis article was very well explained. I agree with what cheif thomson is trying to accomplish. Community policing is very important I think its the great way to police. In this day and age i know many people are not fond of police officers because of all the shootings that happened in 2014. But I also think not a lot of people understand what it's really like to be a police officer. It's not an easy job you never know if your going to come home that night or at least you want to come home. Cops need to be more involved in their communities getting to know the people you police can change the game. Being a police office isn't about arresting people or using your gun. its about helping people in their crises and in their times of need. Your going to meet so many people along the way that are just simply having a bad day. You need to be able to deal with so may different kinds of people going through different struggles who come from different backgrounds. This article was very spot on, on what they are trying to accomplish. We all know that it won't happen over night, but it's possible. Its going to take some time for some of the public to view officers in a different positive way again, but it can happen. The little things really can make the biggest impact. -dicaprio 789
ReplyDeleteFirst of all Gratz on the Oscar Dicaprio Revenant was fricking awesome! I concur with your assessment of the time it will take. "the little things really can make the biggest impact" thats deep. I like it. The article said something about '4-14 positive interactions to recover from a single bad incident.' At that rate its going to take an astronomical amount of time. This may be easier after the culture around policing changes and the community views the job as a necessity without associating it with so much violence. Doberman789
DeleteI thought that this was a really great article. I am a firm believer in the way Chief Thompson is running things. if the community and the police are friends then you are going to have a safe productive community. If you have people that are afraid to go out because they might get arrested is no better then the Nazi Germany. Chief Thompson said you need to set your goal on something like helping the community instead of writing tickets. Society changes all the time and so do the laws and for our society to be a great one then every part of the community needs to change and go with the flow so everything is smooth. You cant have citizens that are keeping up with society and the police still in the colonial times it just wouldn't work Chief Thompson said that the policing needs a "culture change". Godzilla789
ReplyDeleteI like the way you described the things chief Thompson is doing things. I completely agree with you on the way he is doing things is the right way. But I would say we are still a little better than Germany in the World War two.
DeleteJfl789
In this article talks about the way we need to start policing. The more community-focused approach is better than the tough on crime approach. Because the police relations need to be better as a whole. In the beginning of the article Chief Thompson said this I am not looking for output I am looking for outcome. He then went on say a few more things and then ended up saying lastly go make it happen. I love this section in the article because it shows the way we need to be thinking through out the criminal just field. Its up to you to do good and the right thing even when no one is looking. It also talks about the response of outrage of the deaths of African Americans by cops. And the different recommendations that need to be put in place. Which will most likely be done in in the next 15 to 20 years because chiefs don’t want to look at it because of president Obama
ReplyDeleteJfl789
OK, Let's start out with a quote from the late great Sir. Robert Peel: "...the police are the public, and the public are the police...". Where to start. The 'hit the reset button' and completely eliminating the police force and revamping into the county department! Wow, complete jaw dropper there. That sounds crazy, but doable. I was under the impression they were going to do something like this in Ferguson after reading our article a few weeks back. The question would be who from the old law enforcement office was rehired or 'reabsorbed' into the pool of employment. If you’re not from the community that you are hired to police you should make it a priority to drag your butt out of your cruiser and pound some pavement. Do this in order to immerse yourself. Better protect the people by building relationships with your community. We as criminal justice students and future degree holders need to adjust the popular opinion of the police officer, we need to humanize this position. This can be made possible through making police accessible. Make them more accessible outside of interacting during a reactive call. If you don’t know your community the only thing your good for is pulling people over and writing tickets. The majority of calls police officers take are service calls. ‘To Serve and Protect’ that thing ☺??? Community policing is about getting out and ‘mingling’ with the people you are paid by to protect their persons and property. The homeless are a part of your community and should have some time spent discussing resources they could utilize. Be proactive! I dated a gal years back that used that ‘proactive’ term so much I wanted to superman punch something when I heard it but it applies here. L.E.O.s are getting a bad rap lately. Some of them deserve it, while some don’t. Like all things. All in all, the people of the community need to relate more with the local police. It states in the article that crime doesn’t go down with community policing. I get that. I bet it would easier to get a criminal in the jail if you had the helping hand of the community where the violation, assault, or shooting happened. If you knew who was in the talking mood or not you could close a case quicker. Canvasing would be less painful and people might be more cooperative. Hand out treats to the kids during the summer. Mentor them from time to time in after school programs. See how people are feeling when they are outside. Say hello, wave at them from time to time. Stop the youth just to do ‘wellness’ checks. Don’t shake them down every time. I want my daughter to know she can go up to a police officer when she feels like something is wrong. These things aren’t going to kill you. And if they would this wasn’t the job for you in the first place. Frank Rizzo: no disrespect but my mind went right to the Jerky Boys. Doberman789
ReplyDeleteThis is a really great response to the article, there is a lot here. I agree with you about hitting the reset button with the police force. Getting a fresh start may be hard, but it is doable. A fresh start could really benefit the police force because it can exposed and help them fix a lot of their problems. All the points made can be used to have a better understanding of what community policing is and how it works.
DeleteCountryGirl789
Man, you just nailed everything in this article and more. Hitting the reset button would allow us all to reinvent the wheel and understand what we are here to do the oaths that the officers have taken as well as what it means to serve the community while enforcing it also. We have become so closed in our emotions with one an another which is sad.
DeletePalmdaddy789
Wow! Awesome job, you articulate very well. I agree that should have been an approach that Ferguson took after everything that actually happened. Evolutionary roots of community policing where the community and the police actually had an unbreakable relationship and things that were happening that were bad were not so reoccurring because of this particular bond. Forensics123
DeleteRenovating police work in this century could take up to 15 to 20 years like the artical had stated. And that is what kinda stops me in my tracks. It shouldn't take that long to be honest. I liked the idea of having as many cops on the street as possible the more out there the more they can stop crime and produce a better viewing of the police in that community. But then again the other have of me sees it as every body in these neighborhoods thinks of the police as the enemy so why should the police be trying to better their behaviors and lower their arrest rates in a community that can be considered hostile or extremely dangerous. I feel as if the police lighten up the ropes a little bit the community is going to take all it can and run with it and not be able to protect anymore do to the lack of police presence
ReplyDeletebikemaker456
I like what you had to say. I think the community would either run with it, like you said, or maturely understand the cops are making a difference and maybe they would change too. A lot of me wants to the police would just be taken advantage of in this situation. Which could be true, but would the community benefit from it? The main point I got from the article was to change the mindset or paradigm of the officers on patrol. Don’t look for arrests, look for positive outcomes. While I am aware that a police officer needs to be conscious of whether he/she should make an arrest, they could have that in the back of they’re mind as a last resort and focus on making a difference first. This would be hard in today’s society only because police officers are still being shot. This would take work from both the community and the police force. Twal456
DeleteI like how he said he wanted to see the outcomes instead of outputs. It really makes sense, because a police officers duty is not to arrest as many people as they possibly can, but to make the city a better and safer place to be in. I think that is awesome that a police chief told that to his staff. But it asked in the article if it is possible to see in a larger city. That I am simply stumped on because with a bigger city comes a lot of criminals. I feel like you would have to have a lot of 'outputs' to see the 'outcome' in this case. Because you would have to have people understand that you just want a safer place for them and their family just like them.
ReplyDelete-Ibanez789
I liked this article. My thoughts on the topic are both positive and negative. I think the fact that police departments, as a whole want to change to better the community is a very positive thing. I really liked hearing the idea on changing the goal from arrests to outcomes. When I think of a police officers duty to the public, I think of helping the people within the community in every aspect. I know officers need a quota to show they are doing they're job, but where is the quota shown when an officer does something small to help somebody? The only negative vibes I got from this article would be police officers not actually doing they're jobs when it comes to arrests. There still needs to be fear in the community so that people don’t go out and commit crimes left and right. If the officers got too comfortable with the community, it could cause problems. I think finding a healthy medium is essential to this idea working. Overall I think it is great that officers want to change to make a difference. Twal456
ReplyDeleteI can understand how you may feel a bit uncomfortable with the police becoming too relaxed within the community. For me, I could see this happening but only in very rare instances. The police would develop communications with the community in order to not only socialize but develop that bond with everyone. This I would assume means, the children, the elderly, and everyone in between; not just the good citizens but also with families and people who may know affiliations to gangs or drug-runners. The police would have to keep a clean conscience when socializing though, because as you may have assumed, a drug dealer could completely lead a certain group of police officers astray while they do a huge drug run at the opposite side of town. That would definitely be a cause for alarm. Maybe, again an assumption, it is better to know your enemy. - StrongArm789
DeleteI agree with you that there needs to be some fear in the community to a certain extent so that people aren't out thinking that the officers aren't doing their jobs and letting them commit crime. However, I also agree that giving the officers an incentive for doing something good would greatly help the officers adjust to change. Like it said in the article a lot of officers refuse to or do not like change in the system. The system should not be revolved around "arresting their way out of the problem." sparks123
DeleteYes a better relationship with the community helps stabilize many problems that effect our upcoming youth, the elderly that live alone, single mothers and fathers, and both parent households. We have to protect our future along worth theirs. Yet the police have to better with working on their attitudes how they address certain situations and talk to people. Forensics123
DeleteThis article really shows how effective community policing can really be. Chief Scott Thomson is doing a really great job and is taking a step in the right direction with community policing. I thought the part talking about rewarding officers for arresting people instead of using deadly in a situation where deadly force could have been used. I agree that it is a good idea, but it really makes you thing about how society has changed and what kind of society we live in. We are rewarding police officers for not killing somebody. Its weird if you think about it.
ReplyDeleteCountryGirl789
I agree that the idea of rewarding officers with helping people out more than how many people you arrest is really taking the initiative the police need in order to start this process. With more officers doing good in the communities the more people will feel comfortable and might potentially lower the crime rate due to how the community views its police department.
Deletewutang123
Community policing should be placed as the number one priority in all police departments across the United States. IF every prescient made an attempt to get their officers on board with this it could change how Americans view the police to a more positive manner. When you turn on the news you always see some bad story where a cop did something so bad that it makes every day citizens afraid to talk or associate with the police. Right now in America police are viewed most commonly as a threat instead of a person who is going to help you out and with the help of community policing this stereotype could be put to shame and bring along better thoughts and opinions of the police.
ReplyDeletewutang123
The title of the article is “Reinventing America’s Police Forces” and used Camden, NJ as the model for the new philosophy of policing. It also referred to a national report titled Task Force on 21st Century Policing and Camden was cited as an example of what the task force envisioned. I found it ironic that Jerry Radcliff was quoted as saying “there is nothing in this report (Task Force) that is enforceable (at the federal level) because of America’s decentralized government. Isn’t it a contradiction of terms to have community policing controlled at the federal level? It is community policing because local departments should aware of the problems in their community and figure out the best way to resolve them. We do not need a one size fits all solution from someone who doesn’t even live in our community. It is possible that the Camden model may not be the blueprint for all departments and modifications may need to be made to reflect local conditions and political realities. I would rather have a police chief appointed by a mayor than one appointed by a federal bureaucrat. Humvee123
ReplyDeleteI didn't even think about the contradictory that was pointed out above. Also, I like how you support your thoughts with the title of the article and bring up the Task Force on the 21st Century Policing. But I think this is a good plan because it is making a happier community and bringing less hate towards the officers. ICCRunner789
DeleteThis theory in thought, of taking a bottom-up approach rather than a top-down approach, may be exactly what many police or tactical forces need in order to reestablish a stronger foothold with crime in this current age. Many structures have remained the same and found themselves growing into a type of stagnation. Stagnation is unhealthy in every sense because it leads to apathy. The police are writing citations based off a monthly quota in order to meet requirements, but they have done so in order to meet the demands of what they do. As Thomson state, “It’s a paradox.” I have always felt that if you have more interaction between the officials and the communities they protect than crime will decline. Many communities, especially in these troubled areas, see cops as power-hungry; they thrive on making arrests with little to go on other than suspicious allegations. When you have a police force who act upon social factors and have a rapport built up, the citizens will notice and determine that they do in fact care about who it is they protect. The known negating factors cause cops to target drug dealers, users, or other possible criminals as prey, as to lead them into a trap, just like trying to meet a quota. This will cause the community to fear the police and also turn on the defensive anytime they see them, not just in their own communities but anywhere they go. This is also the most provocative stance that media plays when analyzing police activity through the lens of a camera. Society is in a mantra of ‘well, it’s then end of the month, time to drive/act safer.’ The title of this blog refers to the period of 1830. However, this is now a day and age where everyone is watching. Thomson’s ideas are great and though they are at the bottom, this model may invert the whole paradigm. This initial idea can build up trust that has been lost through unnecessary targeting of criminals just based off of suspected predispositions. When the community is at a stance with the police, the individuals will fear committing any type of possible crime. - StrongArm789
ReplyDeleteI really like the way officer Scott Thomson told his officers that he’s not looking at how many arrests they make but rather what the outcome is instead. I think that is great policing. His idea of people sitting out on their pouches and kids riding bikes around the towns sounds like a nice place to live so sounds like the chief is heading in the right direction. I think it is a great idea to change the way a department is use to. Arresting people every time the police show up makes the police look like that’s all they can do. Talking to people and maybe getting them help instead of just arresting them is the way to go in my eyes. More people would rather seek out the police then get scared when they come.
ReplyDeleteGRUNT123
I feel as if though community policing can and does play a major role in law enforcement today. A lot of people to no matter the race, no matter innocent or guilty, they still get edgy when a cop is around. Sometimes they may not feel like they can trust them or that they are only there to get the person in trouble. This is not always the case however. “If arrest is your benchmark for success...it's a failed policy.” Thompson said this in the article and I quite frankly think this is a wise outlook to have. If an officer actually gets out and engages in activities throughout the community and or even does the smallest thing to help a person out such as a kind gesture, then the community will less likely judge the officer in a bad way. The simplest of things can help. By acting with the community instead of against it can help reduce crime majorly. For instance, if an officer makes kind respectful gestures towards a person or persons in the community then it may lead the community member into dropping hints about crime that could or is occurring. Sparks123
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with everything that you said! No matter who someone is everyone is likely to be nervous when there is a police officer around. Even someone that knows they did nothing wrong they are going to be like this as well. Green123
DeleteThis article is a good one for everyone to read. I liked when he was saying if arresting people is your main goal then your basically failing at your job. This job as a police officer is to help others. That is the way that I look at this job. A lot of people say that police are not trying to help everyone. In some cases you are going to get the ones that are just trying to arrest everyone that they can get their hands on which is not right. However we have more officers that do good than bad. I also liked when Thompson stated that he wants to see children outside riding their bikes and people sitting on their porch. If officers can help make the people in their community feel safe and like they are there to help them the officers are going to see this more often. I enjoyed reading this article! Green123
ReplyDeleteThis was a very interesting article. I really enjoy the fact that Chief Thomson is working on the community and its relationship with the officers instead of trying to make arrests. He really is trying to avoid making arrests and having there be a set number of goals to reach by the end of the month or something along those lines. He is trying to make the community like the officers which is much more strategic compared to arresting all the people doing dumb stuff. It is much smarter to have a happy community because that means less violence and hate towards the officers. If you are just arresting a ton of people, chances are the majority of the community is probably going to say "The cops are dicks in this town!" because all they is the arrests and not the service that the officers of that town are actually doing.
ReplyDeleteThis was written by ICCRunner789
DeleteThis was a great article. I think the focus of this article could potentially be helpful to police departments all around the country. Focus on your relationship with the community over arrest numbers. With the focus being on number of arrests that will just lead to throwing someone in jail just for them to get out and repeat the process. That doesnt have a very positive effect on the community. With high numbers of arrests there tends to be more arrests that were carried out in a unprofessional matter. If officers focus more on public safety and arrest those types of criminals the outcome will be more influential to the whole city. gabegun123
ReplyDeleteIts true that focusing on the outcome of an arrest instead of how many can I arrest will lead to more convictions and not only that but ones worth pursuing not just a couple kids skipping school kind of thing. How they arrest someone would lead to better communication or less resistance if maybe restrained like Thompson was saying instead of using violence.
Deletewreked123
“One thing you find in policing is generally people won’t like the way things are, but don’t want change either." This resonates well with where we are at with all the changes in the system. The older officers are still serving with the old mindset reluctant to change. The article said that there is only 2% of high speed chases and foot chases on the job the rest is service calls. Now don't get me twisted every city is different and it will change if your State Police or Municipality. The article focused on municipalities by emphasizing that our focus needs to be HELP your neighbors. I did like the picture he painted when describing the children out and about int the neighborhood riding their bicycles and doing what kids do opposed to them being scared of police officers and feeling uneasy around them. We need to show more compassion towards each other especially our youth!
ReplyDeletePalmdaddy789
I agree. The picture he painted of the children and safety of the community was quite powerful. Once the people of communities feel safe and secured by the police, they may become more open to the police. The police should be considered a beacon of moral values and justice, not just those people who pull me over or beat me if I don't comply with them.
DeleteSilverado789
This article is definitely a good example on how policing should be done and explaining why. Community policing is something we haven't had to much of or cant see due to only violent acts or negative views that is covered. Chief Thompson is setting a good example for his officers and others by telling them his goal is not how many arrest they make but the outcome of the arrest. Police officers need guidance to see like that since get touch on crime laws is how most is being policed.
ReplyDeleteWreked123
I really liked how he said that it should be based on how many people you save not the number of arrests you make. The object of community policing is to protect the citizens not arrest every offender you cab find for an arrest-able offence. And it also touches on the dilemma police face after an incident. Just one bad incident involving law enforcement can take 4 to 14 good incidents to make up for it. All in all a good article. DeadMan456
ReplyDeleteI agree with the fact they should not be focused on the amount of arrests they have to make. That to me is silly. That is how officers have a bad reputation. Most teenagers think officers will pull you over for something stupid and that usually is true. I was going three over the speed limit once and got pulled over and ticketed. It is not about the amount of arrests but the quality of what you made the arrest on. In other words you should be arresting more people who area danger to others and help save lives than focus and worry about your quota.
DeleteExtreme456
I think there is too many cops that want the gun and the badge for power and authority. The lack things in life and they want to make up for it by becoming a cop. This leads to over abusing the systems and making petty arrests. These guys can often be mean and make the criminals want to abuse the system even more. I think when departments hire they should tailor their tests to pick the individuals that have a personality to fit community policing. The US is stronger when our communities are stronger.
DeleteMusic 456
" I am not looking at your outputs, I am looking at your outcomes" I am personally glad to see this quote written in the article by Thompson. This means a step forward for policing. Officers should not be so worried about meeting their quota at the end of the year but instead worrying about how you can make the streets a safer place for children and a community without petty little arrests. When officers do that the community puts it in their heads that officers are mean. That is not how we should be viewed. I like how in the article as well that it mentions officers who save lives get an award. This is a great method. Officers will then start to save lives and see what really matters about policing instead of just trying to meet the amount of arrests to keep their jobs. Another part of the article says general Laurie Robinson offered fifty-nine recommendations for the police district including police diversity, better training, smart use of technology, and great accountability and transparency in law enforcement policies and practices. The problem with policing these days is that the officers are taught to shoot first and get certain amount of arrests done. However; if they follow these recommendations I am highly confident that they will see results in the way the community and other officers act and view themselves. This was an interesting article to read and I am glad I did.
ReplyDeleteExtreme456
I was so exhilarated to hear the chief of police in Camden say they want outcomes and not arrests. The police should not instill fear into the hearts of the individuals in the community that they operate. This causes nothing but issues. The idea of keeping the community safe, yet united should be the number one priority in the mindset of the police officers around the country. When a community is more united and secure, there is less crime and problems in general. The awards presented to officers for community work is much more supportive than an award for arrests. Why award an officer for making more arrests? This only offers the mindset that arrests are good to the police. We should not throw parties for those who sent ten more people to prison than the next officer. Community based policing would offer more transparency and trust from community members. Overall, community based policing would be more advantageous compared to the us versus them mindset that many may view.
ReplyDeleteSilverado789
Policing based on how many arrests can cause all sorts of problems. Yes, arrests when needed are good, but being over excessive and having "quotas" cause a lot of unrest. Today we live in a very divided country, racially speaking and any sort of wrong move by law enforcement sets off people. We dont need the people to view officers as the bad guys and as guys who just want to blow off some steam. America is strongest when our communities are strong, and our communities are strong through the right kind of policing. We need to let the people know that cops are here to protect and promote the community. Too many people are living in fear of the police, due to what the media puts out these days. I think we can eliminate the bad apples by having proper training with community at its core.
ReplyDeleteMusic 456.
I agree that we should go back to our evolutionary roots of community policing where the community and the police actually had an unbreakable relationship and things that were happening that were bad were not so reoccurring because of this particular bond. “When we drive through the neighborhood we want to see little kids riding on their bicycles and people sitting on their front steps. So go make that happen.” I agree that we should actually make this happen again. Instead of it being a constant war and high levels of animosity between the community and police. The world would be a bit safer and the crime rates would be lower. Because one law enforcement breaks trust bonds with the community murders go cold and many crimes go unsolved. Forensics123
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