the most important part of their job. The environment in which cops work
may have made many cynical. But different attitudes will be created when
community leaders become concerned about their communities and are
willing to advocate fundamental changes, such as sending the police off
on a new social mission.

Imposing the criminal justice system is not the only way to deal with
crime. Many antisocial behaviors do not require a criminal law response
but can be treated in other ways, such as through counseling or the social
services. The cop can be a problem solver working within the community.

This vision is the essence of community policing, where the police
officer works with the people. Using that approach, a police officer
becomes a manager and does not simply respond to radio calls or try to
arrest as many people as possible, but attempts to understand peoples'
concerns, tries to be accessible, and takes responsibility for the community.

As you read the cases in this book, you will recognize situations where
police officers have been poorly used, subjected to unnecessary frustra-
tions, and treated almost as children. Would these kinds of grievances have
arisen if the officers involved had been working for a police department
committed to community policing?

Police departments are autocratic, top-down organizations. They expect
police officers to be exemplary employees, but in the past, they have not
trusted them to operate independently.

Modern management techniques have yet to be percolated into this
branch of city government. In the cases that follow the effect of this style
of management will become clear.

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