CNN Research: Major Need for Community Policing Programs

Two days ago, CNN disclosed their findings of a search for some programs to end racial-police conflicts.  To my amazement, they reported that the community policing programs--where community leaders and city police departments form teams of volunteer police persons in a community work together to end crime and violence as a working, local force.  The advantage to the community is that the city fathers then seek out and obtain a list of pressing gripes the citizenry of targeted neighborhoods have--grievances against the way the police do business in their areas.

CNN noted that these community groups have been essentially abandoned because of local government budgetary restraints and commitments, if their city ever had instituted the program.

Hilary's added to this the need that the police force be trained to lower tensions and tempers in the communities they serve by being trained intensively in dealing with their people of differing cultures. It is true, that not until recently, has the US come into contact with Muslims, but now its almost commonplace that cities have mosques within their city limits.  The police forces must know how particular members of their communities think and act, in contradistinction to the typical citizen!  (Personally, I think a policeman must have at least an AA degree, particularly majoring in the social sciences, e.g., sociology or psychology!)

Admittedly, being a policeman today, an individual must have people skills in addition to knowing how to use a lethal weapon.