The theory and practice of community policing: An evaluation of the Iris Court demonstration project

This dissertation deals with the theory and practice of community policing in the United States and elsewhere while focusing on a specific project in Portland, Oregon. It discusses the history of police work in America and the Portland Police Bureau (PPB). It also explicates the various meanings of "community policing," and problems and issues that have surfaced as the community policing movement has evolved.;The research was based on a project--conducted by the PPB and numerous supporting agencies--inaugurated in May 1990 with the following goals: improve residents' quality of life, reduce fear of crime, and reduce levels of actual crime.;Iris Court, a public housing complex owned and operated by the Housing Authority of Portland, was recommended as a demonstration site for community policing because of past and ongoing problems of crime in and around it.;The Portland City Council mandated that community policing become the policing style in Portland; the project was intended to test various community policing strategies.;The tenants were surveyed prior to implementation of those strategies. The Metro-Life Enhancement Team was formed, an action plan was developed, most of the action plan items were implemented, and the tenants were resurveyed one year later.;Project evaluation was conducted to assess whether community policing had a measurable effect on public safety. The dependent variables were quality of life, fear of crime, and actual crime. Various community policing strategies would be judged successful if reported crime declined, fear of crime was reduced, and quality of life improved.;The data show the project was at least moderately successful. Reported crime declined, fear of crime was reduced, and there were indications that quality of life was improved. A striking finding was a 55% decrease in reported crime during the study period. This study suggests that community policing strategies of partnership, empowerment, problem solving, accountability, and service orientation can be successful.