Research Note: Cops,Kids,and Community Policing—An Assessment of a Community Policing Demonstration Project

Abstract

This article presents evaluation findings from a community policing demonstration project undertaken during the summer months of 1992 in Spokane, Washington. Police officers assigned to the project were involved with youths in brief, nonthreatening weekly interactions, which they expected might improve the image of the police, promote law-abiding behavior, and instill in the youths a conventional work ethic. Data from three sources (observations, focus group interviews, and survey research) indicate positive program outcomes for participating youths, their parents, and the officers involved with the project.