The essay reflection will be written in the first person point of view. Choose one of your formal papers, either the Six-Source Essay or the MultiSource Essay/Literature Review, and write a reflection on the essay in terms of both process and product

The reflective essay is an opportunity for writers to critically assess the progress they have made in thinking, researching, and writing about a chosen topic. Writing a reflective essay allows a writer to tell the unique story of how a topic idea, cultivated through research, grew into a paper. It is a chance to think in a sustained way about the context, objectives, and process of a writing project. Here are some questions that will help you to prepare for a reflective paper: Context: What was the purpose of the essay? Do I think I achieved that purpose? What do research sources say about my chosen topic? Did the research say different things than I expected it to say? How did the readers react to the paper? What was interesting, surprising, or difficult about the reactions to the paper? Objectives: What are my learning goals for the course? How did researching and writing the essay help me to further those goals? What obstacles presented themselves that hindered my progress towards those goals? What ideas did I have about my topic when I began? How did the research sources affect those ideas? Did my ideas change as a result of the thinking, researching, and writing process? Did researchers from different fields report different findings on the topic? What information did I want readers to have as a result of reading the paper? What information do I want readers to have now? Process: What was my experience of researching the topic? What was my experience of writing the paper? What challenges did I face as I did the work? What successes did I achieve?How did I respond to these challenges and successes? How did responses from other readers and writers change my process? Addtional labor asks you to incorporate APA quotes and citations from your research into this reflection. 500 words (2 double-spaced pages)

My Multi Source Essay is below:

Introduction

The relationship between community policing and the use of fatal force by law enforcement has sparked significant debate in recent decades. Proponents of community policing argue that it offers an effective solution to reduce violent encounters between police and citizens. Critics, however, contend that community policing often serves as a rhetorical device rather than a substantive reform, and its impact on reducing fatal force remains ambiguous. This essay explores the effectiveness of community policing in mitigating police use of fatal force, synthesizing insights from multiple sources, including the foundational work of Victor E. Kappeler and Larry K. Gain in Community Policing: A Contemporary Perspective (2021). Drawing from case studies such as Baltimore and Newark, as well as empirical research on predictive policing and implicit bias, this essay seeks to assess whether community policing is a genuinely transformative strategy or merely rhetoric without reality.

Historical Context and Philosophical Foundations of Community Policing

Community policing, as outlined by Kappeler and Gain (2021), emerged in response to the growing public dissatisfaction with traditional, reactive policing methods. According to the authors, community policing represents a shift in philosophy from law enforcement as a separate entity to one that seeks to build partnerships with the community to reduce crime collaboratively. The philosophy expands the traditional mandate of policing, emphasizing proactive problem-solving and the involvement of local stakeholders in policing decisions. Kappeler and Gain emphasize that community policing is not a specialized unit within a police department but an organizational-wide strategy that requires buy-in from all levels of the police force.

Historically, community policing developed in the late 20th century, particularly in response to the social unrest and civil rights movements of the 1960s and 1970s, which exposed deep tensions between law enforcement and minority communities. In response, policing agencies began experimenting with strategies aimed at improving relations between the police and the communities they serve. However, while the philosophy has evolved into a central pillar of modern law enforcement strategies, questions remain about its efficacy, particularly in reducing the use of fatal force. According to a study published by the Annual Review of Sociology (2019), this evolution was also influenced by societal changes in the 1960s and 1970s, where civil unrest and demands for police, accountability led to the development of policing strategies that emphasized transparency and cooperation with local communities. Community policing, therefore, is not merely a set of tactics but a philosophical transformation that aims to build trust and ensure that police serve as a resource for solving community problems.

Theoretical Framework and Strategic Implementation

The theoretical foundation of community policing rests on building trust and fostering collaboration between law enforcement and the community. Kappeler and Gain (2021) argue that successful community policing strategies require full departmental integration, meaning that community policing must be embedded in every facet of police operations rather than relegated to a single unit. The authors outline an eight-step model for implementing community policing, which includes assessing organizational needs, fostering internal cultural change, and developing accountability mechanisms. These steps are essential in ensuring that community policing is not merely a cosmetic reform but a substantive change in how policing is conducted.

However, despite the theoretical soundness of community policing, critics argue that it often fails to address deeper structural issues within police departments, particularly around the use of fatal force. According to the article Policing, Community Fragmentation, and Public Health: Observations from Baltimore, community policing efforts can be undermined by fragmented, racially divided urban environments. In cities like Baltimore, socioeconomic inequalities and historical tensions between police and minority communities have hindered the ability of community policing programs to reduce fatal force incidents. This suggests that while the philosophy of community policing may be sound, its implementation in real-world settings is fraught with challenges, particularly in communities that have long-standing distrust of law enforcement.

Empirical Evidence: Mixed Results on Reducing Fatal Force

Empirical studies provide mixed results regarding the effectiveness of community policing in reducing fatal force incidents. For example, the Randomized Controlled Field Trials of Predictive Policing explored whether community policing initiatives could reduce violent encounters between police and citizens. While the study found that community policing can improve police-community relations, it did not demonstrate a statistically significant reduction in fatal encounters. This finding raises questions about whether community policing, in its current form, is sufficient to address the issue of police use of fatal force.

Another important factor that limits the effectiveness of community policing is implicit bias within police departments. The article Disrupting the Effects of Implicit Bias: The Case of Discretion & Policing (2021) argues that while community policing can foster better relationships between law enforcement and the public, it does little to address the underlying biases that may influence police officers' decision-making processes. Implicit bias, particularly against minority communities, continues to play a significant role in fatal force incidents. Without comprehensive implicit bias training and systemic reform, community policing alone may not be enough to reduce police violence in minority communities.

Case Studies: Baltimore and Newark

The implementation of community policing strategies in different cities provides valuable insights into both the potential and the limitations of this approach. Baltimore, as discussed in Policing, Community Fragmentation, and Public Health, offers a case study of how community policing can falter in deeply divided communities. In Baltimore, the city's socioeconomic inequalities and racial tensions have created an environment where trust between law enforcement and citizens is difficult to build. Despite the introduction of community policing initiatives, the city's police department has struggled to reduce fatal force incidents, particularly in impoverished, predominantly Black neighborhoods. This suggests that community policing, when implemented in fragmented urban environments, may face significant obstacles in achieving its goals.

In contrast, Newark offers a more optimistic example of community policing's potential to reduce fatal force incidents. The article Politics, Police Accountability, and Public Health: Civilian Review in Newark, New Jersey highlights how the introduction of civilian review boards in Newark has complemented the city's community policing efforts. Civilian review boards provide an important mechanism for increasing police accountability, which in turn fosters greater trust between law enforcement and the community. In Newark, the combination of community policing and civilian oversight has been associated with a reduction in fatal force incidents. However, the article also notes that civilian review boards alone are not sufficient; they must be part of a broader strategy that includes community policing, implicit bias training, and systemic reform of police culture.

Race, Place, and the Effectiveness of Community Policing

The success of community policing is also deeply influenced by the intersection of race and geography. The study Race, Place, and Effective Policing (2019) argues that community policing is more likely to succeed in middle-class or gentrifying neighborhoods, where residents have the time, resources, and willingness to engage with police initiatives. In contrast, poorer, minority-dominated areas often see less effective community policing efforts due to systemic issues such as underfunded police departments, high crime rates, and a lack of trust between police and residents.

This raises important questions about the equity of community policing. If community policing is only effective in certain types of communities, can it be considered a viable solution to police violence across all neighborhoods? Critics argue that unless community policing can be adapted to work in the most marginalized areas, it will remain more rhetoric than reality. Furthermore, the failure of community policing in poor, minority communities suggests that broader systemic changessuch as addressing socioeconomic disparities and improving police accountabilityare necessary to achieve meaningful reductions in police use of fatal force.

The Role of Police Accountability and Public Perception

One of the central components of reducing police use of fatal force is increasing accountability within police departments. The article The Mark of Policing (2020) discusses how public perception of police legitimacy plays a critical role in the success of community policing initiatives. When the public perceives police officers as legitimate and accountable, they are more likely to cooperate with law enforcement, which can reduce the likelihood of violent confrontations. Conversely, in areas where police are seen as corrupt or overly aggressive, community policing efforts often fail to gain traction.

Civilian oversight mechanisms, such as the civilian review boards in Newark, provide an important tool for increasing police accountability. However, as noted in Politics, Police Accountability, and Public Health, these boards are often underfunded and lack the necessary authority to hold officers accountable for misconduct. Without proper oversight, community policing risks being perceived as a public relations effort rather than a genuine reform.

Research by Sampson (2019) and ProQuest (2016) indicates that communities that actively engage in partnerships with police tend to experience lower crime rates and report higher levels of trust in law enforcement. Sampson (2019) highlights how successful community policing initiatives, such as neighborhood watch programs and community meetings, empower citizens to take an active role in crime prevention, creating a sense of shared responsibility for public safety.

Implicit Bias and Police Culture: A Barrier to Reducing Fatal Force

Even in jurisdictions where community policing is implemented effectively, implicit bias within police departments can undermine efforts to reduce fatal force incidents. The Disrupting the Effects of Implicit Bias article highlights how biasesparticularly against Black and Latino individualscontinue to shape police officers' decision-making processes. These biases can lead to disproportionate use of force in minority communities, even in departments that have adopted community policing strategies.

Implicit bias training is often suggested as a solution to this problem. However, the effectiveness of such training depends on how deeply ingrained these biases are within police culture. If community policing does not address these underlying issues, it may have little impact on reducing police violence. Therefore, any comprehensive strategy to reduce police use of fatal force must include efforts to counteract implicit bias alongside community policing initiatives.

4. Challenges and Critiques of Modern Policing Models

Despite its potential benefits, community policing faces several challenges in the modern context. One of the most significant critiques, as presented by a study published in Cambridge (2021), is that community policing often relies too heavily on police officers to perform roles better suited for social workers or mental health professionals. This over-reliance can lead to negative outcomes for both police and the communities they serve, particularly when police officers are expected to manage complex social issues without the necessary training or support.

Another critique, highlighted by the Stanford Law Review (2021), focuses on how community policing can sometimes perpetuate systemic inequalities. According to the review, community policing, while well-intentioned, can often be used as a tool of surveillance in marginalized communities, where increased police presence may not be welcomed. In these contexts, community policing can exacerbate existing tensions rather than alleviate them, particularly if communities feel that police are imposing their authority rather than working collaboratively. These critiques suggest that for community policing to be truly effective, it must be accompanied by broader societal reforms that address the root causes of inequality and distrust between law enforcement and marginalized communities.

Despite the numerous benefits of community policing, several challenges and critiques persist. Some law enforcement agencies struggle with implementing community policing due to resource limitations, bureaucratic resistance, and the need for comprehensive training for officers. Additionally, critics argue that community policing may not address systemic issues related to race and inequality in law enforcement practices. Furthermore, the effectiveness of community policing can vary based on the community's demographics, history, and socio-economic conditions. In some cases, deeply rooted distrust between law enforcement and specific communities may hinder the implementation of community policing strategies.

Conclusion: Is Community Policing Effective in Reducing Fatal Force?

The relationship between community policing and police use of fatal force is complex and multifaceted. While community policing has the potential to reduce violent interactions between police and citizens, its effectiveness is highly dependent on the context in which it is implemented. In fragmented, marginalized communities, community policing often falls short, failing to build the necessary trust and cooperation to reduce fatal force incidents. Furthermore, implicit biases within police departments must be addressed for community policing to achieve its full potential.

Overall, community policing should not be dismissed as mere rhetoric, but neither should it be seen as a panacea. For community policing to be genuinely effective, it must be part of a broader strategy that includes accountability measures, implicit bias training, and systemic reform. Only then can it serve as an effective policing strategy rather than a rhetorical tool designed to placate public concerns without addressing the root causes of police violence.

Reference List

Annual Review of Sociology. (2019). Community policing and its evolution in modern society. Annual Review of Sociology, 45, 431-453.https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-soc-073018-022541

Cambridge University Press. (2021). The impact of policing on involuntary routes of admission: A QIP on patient experiences. BJPsych. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2021.86

Greenberg, N., Brooks, S., & Dunn, R. (2016). Responding to mental health crises: A community policing approach. NIH, 8(2), 177-190.https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.84.1.177

Kappeler, V. E., & Gain, L. K. (2021, June 1). Community policing: A contemporary perspective. 15(2). 1601-1602.https://web-p-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.umgc.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=0&sid=5d66d4ee-22c2-47a7-a25f-c4cd840a64c4%40redis

NIH. (2016). The effectiveness of community policing in responding to mental health crises. NIH, 8(2), 200-213.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2015.07.004

ProQuest. (2016). Understanding the complexities of community policing in modern times. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global.https://doi.org/10.1049/prq-dt-2022

Sampson, R. J. (2019). Neighborhoods and violent crime: The complexities of crime prevention. Annual Review of Criminology, 2(1), 47-64.https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-cr-120118-022140

Stanford Law Review. (2021). The mark of policing: Systemic inequalities in the era of community policing. Stanford Law Review.https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3762764