Define community policing.

Community policing is fundamentally about fostering a collaborative relationship between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve. The strategy emphasizes proactive engagement, with an aim to build trust and empower citizens in public safety initiatives. This approach recognizes that effective policing goes beyond traditional crime-fighting methods, emphasizing the importance of community input and participation in solving local issues.

Building relationships allows officers to gain insights into community concerns, helping them to better address specific problems and implement solutions collaboratively. The success of community policing is often measured by the level of community involvement and the reduction of crime through cooperative efforts rather than relying solely on enforcement actions. This contrasts with options that focus on traffic enforcement, recruitment strategies, or funding, which do not encompass the relational and community-oriented objectives of community policing.