Community Policing: Planning for Conflict

Planning for Conflict
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Planning for Conflict
Community policing is a critical way to engage the police and the community, thus reducing cases of use of force and other complaints. It is an approach whereby the police identify the shared responsibility and independence of the community [1]. It resolves possible challenges as police execute their duties across the community. Community policing is effective whenever the police consider specific guiding principles that streamline their actions. The principles guide the police training and equipment recommendations for enhancing officer safety and reducing the use of force [2]. The paper explores five significant principles needed to promote community policing to reduce high-profile use of force incidents in the department leading to community unrest.
Guiding Principles
1: The agencies need to be transparent as they provide information regarding the use of force incidents (Policy 13)
One of the key reasons for high profile is the lack of necessary data regarding police use of force. Community policing is significantly transformed into community engagement by providing the community with valid and real-time data on incidents regarding the use of force [3]. The guiding principle requires adequate information from police as much as possible whenever any incidence occurs. They should acknowledge the public on any action deemed to police violence or use of excessive force. It is also necessary to consider key steps necessary to engage the community whenever the incidents occur, either intentionally or unintentionally. Therefore, the guideline majorly defines the activities which occur after the incident.
Specific steps are needed to incorporate the principle into the organization and limit possible challenges such as community unrest. The primary step is to provide immediate and preliminary information to the community regarding the incidents. The department should consider the information emergent and likely to shape the community engagement activities. After revealing key information to the community, it is necessary to assure them of rapid changes in the department to prevent similar cases. Communicating needs to understand the changes to be assured of securing the future. The major equipment required is a communication system. Therefore, the key methods to communicate the changes are community-police conferences and seminars; the approaches will allow the community to understand the commitments of the police in reducing extensive use of force.
2: De-escalation as the theme of the agency's training program
The principle requires each agency to comprehensively train the officers on the key aspects and strategies to reduce extensive use of force. De-escalation is important in reducing police use of force, such as shootings that alter the relationships with the community [5]. It is a significant behavior to prevent conflict escalation, and therefore, it would limit rising conflicts between the community and the police department. Lastly, the principle is significant since it promotes peace and makes the community feel valued. Therefore, it would be easy to restructure the police department with the de-escala...