How does community policing primarily differ from traditional policing?

Community policing primarily differs from traditional policing by emphasizing proactive strategies and fostering collaboration with the community. This approach aims to prevent crime and address the root causes of issues within neighborhoods, rather than merely responding to incidents after they occur. By engaging with community members, law enforcement builds trust and partnerships, enabling them to work together in identifying and solving problems that affect public safety.

In traditional policing, the focus is generally more reactive, dealing with crimes after they happen and relying heavily on enforcement rather than prevention. Methods may include responding to calls for service and investigating incidents. Although technology and individual officer discretion can play roles in both approaches, community policing distinctly integrates community input into the policing process, forming a symbiotic relationship that encourages community members to actively participate in safety efforts. This collaborative aspect is what differentiates community policing from traditional methods.