Community policing a promising change

Costa Mesa city leaders last week made a smart decision in

unanimously backing a proposal from new Police Chief John Hensley to

alter the Police Department’s crime-fighting procedures from the

traditional “command and control” style -- in which officers react to

individual incidents -- to one focused on community policing -- in

which officers are assigned beats so they can become familiar with

the areas and people they serve.

It certainly was important to support Hensley’s first major policy

initiative and demonstrate that the department’s new leader has City

Hall confidence, especially when introducing such a change. But even

more so, and even more importantly, this sounds like an excellent

idea. Hensley deserves credit for not hesitating to pursue new

strategies if he thinks they are better.

Under a community policing policy, officers will become experts in

their parts of the city and will know the nooks and crannies where

crimes might occur or criminals might hide. They also will get to

know the residents of their assigned beat and those residents will

get to know them. The policy will build on the minor amount of such

policing now being done, with just a single officer assigned to

different beat.

The benefits are obvious. Witnesses to a crime would be more

likely to talk to an officer they know than one who just appears

because a crime has been committed. As Hensley said, “You don’t want

strangers coming to your house when you have a problem.” An officer

who knows the territory will be better able to react, and react

quickly, than one who is unfamiliar with the landscape.

Officers are expected to be in their beats beginning early next

year.

The change should also help foster better relationships among city

employees, as the police will work more closely with other

departments to handle problems. It also will enable experts --

whether code enforcement officials, planners or others -- to be

called to a scene when their skills are needed, much as expert police

officers will be called to the scene in their territory.

As good as the policy sounds, city leaders still should ensure

that the change is reviewed systematically to demonstrate whether it

is effective. But the proof most likely will come from the residents

who are dealing with the officers.