What Is Community Policing or COP'S?
It's bringing police and citizens together to prevent crime -- and solve neighborhood problems. In community policing, the emphasis is on stopping crime before it happens. Community policing gives citizens more control over the quality of life in their community.

Community Oriented Policing means Police become part of the neighborhood. This helps police get a better sense of residents' needs and helps residents feel more trust in the police. Also, residents "join" the police force. Residents and police work together to achieve a common goal of a safer neighborhood.

Why Learn About Community Policing? Because it can't work without your help! Community policing calls for teamwork between citizens and police. Preventing crime is a big job. The police are more effective when they can depend on residents for help. Commitment from both citizens and police help to improve your neighborhood. Community police officers look to residents to help in solving community problems.

How Can I Help Make Community Policing Work?
Don't wait for someone else to take the lead. Everyone in the community shares the responsibility for making community-policing work! There's 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 neighbors' doors and introduce yourself.
• Hold community meetings. Get the word out on when and where meetings will take place. Encourage your neighbors to attend. Meetings can be a great opportunity to air concerns and agree on solutions.
• Join a neighborhood watch group. It's your neighborhood, keep an eye on it. If there's no group in your neighborhood, ask the police how to start one.
• Talk to your community police officer. 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.

The Belleville Police Department recognizes the need for an effective partnership with the community and the importance of forming a coalition to address safety concerns within the Belleville community.

Engaging members of the community to volunteer their time is at the very heart of the Neighborhood Watchprogram. While this is no easy task, the results are well worth the effort. Those who participate in Neighborhood Watchprograms are not merely private citizens and law enforcement agencies; Neighborhood Watchalso relies on the support and participation of many other entities, such as cultural institutions, government agencies, faith-based organizations, businesses, and the nonprofit sector. The collaborative effort between law enforcement, community members, and these groups is pivotal in advancing NW's goal to protect neighborhoods from crime and secure our homeland, as well as establishing communities that are rich in service and citizenship. Learn more about Neighborhood Watch Programs and other citizen based programs at USA on Watch.