7.4: Policy Influences

Present in executive decision making relative to policy making is both internal and external variables. According to Marion & Oliver (2012) “Mayors in recent years have been instrumental in the implementation of community policing with cities and towns across the United States. In many cases the ability to implement such a program begins with the hiring of a new chief and the mayor giving that chief a specific charge” (p.123). This was the case in 2003 with the hiring of new Police Commissioner that was similarly situated in ideology as was the Mayor. The COP/POP experience in York, PA was influenced by economics and the community pressure brought to bear; but more difficult to deal with for the Police Commissioner was the resistance to change and peer pressure from within the rank and file members of the police department and neighborhoods as well.

Research suggests that local governments were more likely to commit to the needs of the community than did federal officials. Furthermore, federal officials reacted toward cities based on ideology rather than need (Choi, Turner, & Volden 2002). Whenever an election was needed in a city which had a mayor-council, grants were requested in the short term due to the beneficial impacts that they often have (Choi, Turner, & Volden 2002). However, York City was financially distressed due to shrinking tax base and being the County Seat, nearly 45% of the properties were tax exempt; therefore, became more reliant upon outside resources to address the crime issue. Second to the financial difficulty of the City was impacts by a heavily unionized police department which felt threatened by the political mechanism and feelings of indifference toward the members attempting to provide a service to the City. At the same time the community at large and certain segments of the community felt neglected by the police and was of the mind-set, crime was ok in their part of town.

Community policing style or strategies is unique to its own environment but police remain with the responsibility of enforcing the law and making arrest, which could conflict with the inter-departmental relationships between police officers and community partners (Smith, Novak, & Frank, 2001). As it relates to intra-department relationships police officers engaged in Community Oriented Policing techniques and strategies may engage in traditional police activities to satisfy their peers. Additionally, research has shown that a subculture which embraces group solidarity among the police can lead to violations of community oriented policing practices (Smith et al., 2001).

Officer discretion has become an issue in community-oriented policing. Direct and constant contact with the public can lead to abuses by officers (Weisburd, & Eck 2004). Officers could be encouraged by the public to use methods outside of their training to handle the problems that the public faces (Weisburd, & Eck 2004). Community policing places a high value on the responsiveness by police to the community needs. Arguments by opponents of COP/POP state that community policing will weaken the rule of law by the expanded use of discretion that may come from the implementation of community policing (Weisburd, & Eck 2004). Research has shown that officers rely on policing for various reasons one in which is the social activities. As a result of social bonding police are more likely to be persuaded by peers to engage in traditional police methods rather community-oriented methods (Smith, Novak, & Frank 2001). However, community police officers respond to calls voluntarily in their district to prove legitimate among peers and have a sincere pride in doing “police work” (Smith, Novak, & Frank 2001).

Therein lays the crux of the issue for the new Police Commissioner; recrafting attitudes and developing community as part of the policing philosophies and policy. Executive policy development may look good on paper but often is not worth the paper it is written upon unless buy-in is obtained from a grassroots inception. Policy development in this situation required input from the officers performing the daily tasks of policing and restructuring management philosophies that may embrace a new direction. This is discussed in greater detail in the explanation of strategies that were developed inside the community.