Community Oriented Policing (COPPS)
Making It Work
Don’t wait for someone else to take the lead. Everyone in the community shares the responsibility
for making community policing work! There is a lot you can do. For example:
Get to know your neighbors. Community policing works better when the community is united.
One way to start is to knock on your neighbor’s doors and introduce yourself.
Hold community meetings. Get the word out on when and where the meetings will take place.
Encourage your neighbors to attend. Meetings can be a great opportunity to air concerns and
agree on solutions.
Join a Community Watch group. It’s your neighborhood, help keep an eye on it. If there is not
group in your neighborhood, ask us how to start one.
Talk to your neighborhood beat officer. Get to know him or her by their first name. Report any
suspicious activities. Pass along any information that could help the police prevent or solve a crime.
Talk about your concerns, but don’t forget to show your support.
