A large group of officers is working with the chief to develop a career path program that helps officers see how they can progress under community policing over a 20-year time span. The basic premise of the system is to reward officers for the amount of added skills and experience the officer has generated for himself or herself, not simply for reporting for duty and not breaking any rules. Reaching beyond what many departments have tried, Salt Lake is initiating a general response team of geographically based detectives who do not specialize in particular kinds of crime. By taking on all kinds of investigations, the detectives can recognize trends, problems, and criminals who don't restrict themselves to one type of offense. They can identify links among drug users, drug markets, local robberies, and local burglaries, for instance.
Crime prevention is a major element of community policing.
Recruits are trained not only in community policing but in crime prevention. They are pressed to seek the root of the problem, to talk to neighbors and get other information to help solve problems. They see themselves as able to identify problems or, if not, to pass them along in a useful way to those who can focus on the problem. Crime prevention specialists are now part of the patrol division under one assistant chief. They enjoy being able to use their skills in a wide range of problem-solving opportunities and having the opportunity for continued engagement with the community.