COMMUNITY POLICING

Community Policing started many years ago in the Atlantic City Police Department. It began with the Departments inception, when Officers knew everyone within the beats where they worked.

Over the years, the workload increased and it became necessary to increase the Departments mobility. Eventually, virtually all of the Department's Patrol Officers were assigned to cars. While this type of policing was necessary it created a situation where the Police were viewed as separated from the communities in which they worked.

In the 70's the trends in policing were to bring walking beats back into use. The idea was for the Officers to again be familier with the community they served. This idea has evolved into today's Community Policing. Atlantic City initially used this concept in specific areas of the city as directed patrol areas. The Community Policing concept is now being utilized throughout the Patrol Sections of the Department. Officers are being assigned to districts on a long-term basis so that they will be familier with the problems and the people of their areas.

This policy is based on the idea of creating a partnership between the citizens and the police to bring about a higher quality of life, not just in certain areas but throughout the entire city.

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