The police psychologist was asked to help implement a community policing program with the local police department. Some seasoned officers may be resistant to change and having a psychologist on staff. To gain support for the program, the psychologist and sheriff held a dinner with community leaders to discuss safety issues and how community policing could help. The psychologist proposes a three-phase training program for property managers and residents to improve security and educate them on community policing. Assessments will be conducted with officers, both new recruits and seasoned veterans, to determine attitudes towards change and the new program. The goal is to create a safer environment for all through community involvement and support for law enforcement.

1. Community Policing
By: Vicky Pulido
Unit 9 Assignment
CJ325: Psychology for Law Enforcement

2. During these times of excessive acceleration of technology
we have to prepare ourselves for the present and the
future which is not far behind. As the community police
psychologist I have been requested to assist on
implementing a community policing structure with our
local police department. This is a very exciting time for me
to accomplish a very strong structure within the law
enforcement environment. Sheriff Green has asked me to
assist him with this transition within the community and
the police department. Some of the police officers here
are very seasoned and during some of my evaluations and
assessments I have found that they do not really embrace
change and that includes having a police psychologist on
site.

3. But thru my experiences with most of the police officers, I
have seen some acceptance within their behavior and
performances. Attitudes towards change are in the
horizon and I feel we can fulfil this challenge by making
additional changes within our police force and that would
also include our community leaders.

4. Sherriff Green and I sponsored a benefit dinner with
strong and influential individuals our elected
Assemblymen, Mayor, successful business women and
men who invest a lot of their time and money within this
community and who have a voice to make positive
changes. In my opinion in order to implement change
within the police department I felt we needed to have
strong and supportive backing before additional training
was made as a mandatory requirement

5. Gang wars
Solicitation of drugs
Prostitution
• Initially introducing the concept of community policing
to our guests the topics that were discussed was safety
within our community and the suggestions as to how
all of us can be involved and make this a mandatory
focus so we can create a better environment for our
families, our investments and our children in order to
accomplish this goal we need to be in agreement.
Robberies
Kidnapping
Homeless

6. In order to present the final model of how we can create
the community policing, we also need to focus on the
areas of priority. Some of the areas of large population
with the apartment living, low income, and senior citizens
private properties was my first suggestion; In order to
expand this service we have to begin in areas of need to
eliminate the crime activity. Our main purpose is to create
an environment of safety and good will.
Sometimes being a local resident you will be able to police
on your own and receive information out of good faith
only because you are not a police officer and you do not
present a threat. By implementing a community policing
function and the results are present within a limited
amount of time, success with other areas of the
community of course will expand.

7. I also would begin policing with the investment properties
within the community where we can improve safety and
security conditions. We also would fully certify and
establish a three phase program educating management
and residents as to the community policing process. This
is a group if not community effort and with the strong
support and foundation at conception it would be just a
matter of time that the community will be a safer place to
live.

8. Training for the
Community
Policing

9. The three phase process would be:
Management learns about security
improvements
Property survey to improve safety
conditions
Meeting with residents is held
www.wsbtv.com/news/news

10. During the revamping of structure within the community
with our politicians and community investors (leaders) I
would have to introduce this concept as the police
psychologist to the active members within the police
department.
The topic of discussion will be:
Community policing
Training
Organizational development
Positive role models to the community

11. As for the seasoned officers I would present this change as
a positive step towards an environment of safety. I also
would first give an assessment to the seasoned officers;
Q&A to get an opinion on how this new model would
work within the community. I am going to emphasize to
the officers that they need to have an open mind when
reading the assessment and validating the studies of how
other communities who utilize the community policing
system have improved within a 12 month period when the
model structure is used to its highest potential. Without
the assistance and support of our active police officers we
will not meet our goals in its entirety at a reasonable time
frame.

12. As for the new recruits I would incorporate the assessment
as part of the pre-employment screening. “Although I am
gathering all the information needed for actuarial
assessment; incorporating actuarially derived
information(Handbook of Police Psychology Unit 7) I
would also be interested on the new recruits opinion and
suggestions on the newly established community policing
process. By suggesting that in this decision making
process and operating function within the mainstream the
accepted practices of this project will become more
successful.

13. Along with the assessments as the police psychologist I am interested in these
validations of job related functions:
Information about duties
Idea of power
Demands
Working conditions
Based on the information given at the time of pre-screening, it will determine a profile
of each individual on their criteria. I will also be able to determine based on their
answers on the assessment what level of stress if any will complicate their job
performance being involved with the community policing. Some might have the
attitude that it will complicate situations, maybe they might even feel they are being
overtaken by society. There are so many definitions of stress that can be expressed
however, with the positive support and the research and surveys that will be presented
as proof that everyone will be utilizing their job functions and positions as required by
the organization.

14. Based on everyone’s ability to have an open mind and embrace a new and acceptable function within the community will ultimately effect
everyone’s life including our police force.

15. References:
Handbook of Police Psychology
www.wsbtv.com/news/news