Describe the major methods or achievements of two large communities in COPPS, either their transitioning to this strategy, or in the aftermath of their doing so

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Obviously, this question presents a wide array of options for the student. Here are some possible responses:

Austin, Texas, PD began reviewing the COPPS philosophy in the 1990s and designed a strategy to incorporate the concept throughout the entire organization. A five-year transition was developed and submitted to the city council. Today, several ancillary programs have been implemented, including a leadership academy for citizens, a landlord training program, a citizen patrol program, and problem-solving projects for cadets at the academy and after graduation. Strong emphasis is placed on the use of technology. A geographic information system (GIS) was first employed to see where vehicles were being stolen and recovered. Success there led to GIS initiated in the crime analysis unit.

San Antonio, Texas, has embraced COPPS for many decades through its Community Services, School Services, and Crime Prevention programs; storefronts; decentralized patrol substations; and downtown foot and bicycle patrol units. In 1995, the department went a step further, creating a special community policing unit called San Antonio Fear Free Environment (SAFFE), which is linked closely with community involvement programs. Enlarged to 100 officers in 1996, the SAFFE unit focuses on identifying, evaluating, and resolving community crime problems with the cooperation and participation of community residents.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg, North Carolina, has long believed technology is an important crime reduction tool, and the CMPD takes pride in taking the use of technology to a new level; each officer is assigned a laptop computer in the police cruiser, and each can utilize the GIS. Both allow officers to have quick and easy access to information for problem solving and to analyze events that have taken place. Their website is also a valuable tool.

Chicago developed the Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS) in April 1993; patrol officers were permanently assigned to fixed beats and trained in problem-solving strategies. Neighborhood meetings between officers and area residents were held, and citizen committees were formed to advise district commanders. Studies by Skogan indicate that reductions in crimes and fear of crime are attributable to the CAPS program, to general awareness of the CAPS program, and to increasing confidence in the police – one of the major goals of the project. CAPS is recognized as one of the most ambitious COPPS initiatives in the United States, being cited as a model by numerous police experts and the federal government.

Minneapolis PD developed a new vision that sought to correct crime problems and change the way the city was policed. It included the following: neighborhood residents would become deeply involved in developing neighborhood policing strategies; the police would remain in their assigned neighborhoods for extended periods of time; residents would have equal responsibility with police for addressing crime and disorder; the police would collaborate with citizens on strategy development; there would be strong outreach to other organizations, and transparency of all efforts; the MPD would determine, with community input, what service could be provided with current staffing levels; working groups would be developed in each area to initiate problem-solving strategies for key neighborhood problems.

San Diego, California, like Chicago (discussed above), has a long and storied history of innovation and success with COPPS. Since the early 1970s, community policing has been San Diego's guiding philosophy. To professionalize problem solving as an accepted policing strategy, the SDPD and the Police Executive Research Forum founded and was the site of the annual National Problem Oriented Policing Conference, which showcased the most recent research in the field and hosted up to 1,500 attendees from around the world.