Community policing is the practice of police officers and citizens working together in creative ways to improve the quality of life in a neighborhood by solving problems that create crime and the fear of crime. By bringing residents, the business community, and other City agencies into the problem-solving process, police officers are able to address crime using both traditional police strategies and innovative approaches tailored to the unique needs of a neighborhood.
The Police Department integrates the philosophy and practice of community policing into its overall delivery of services. Patrol officers are given long-term beat assignments to help them develop a sense of ownership for their neighborhoods and allow them to engage in proactive problem-solving. Neighborhood associations are assigned a police supervisor to act as a single point of contact for their needs and concerns.