Citizens actively work with police officers and sheriffs deputies to identify and understand the most pressing problems in the community and devise solutions together. Through community meetings, citizen surveys, analysis of citizen complaints, and conversations with residents, officers and deputies learn what issues concern neighborhood residents most. This information enables officers to better respond to the needs of the community. Under community policing, citizens may volunteer their time and services to assist the police. They may attend meetings with police officers and sheriff's deputies to brainstorm solutions to a recurring problem, or they may find themselves assisting other government agencies providing community services.
Partnerships can boost the public's confidence in law enforcement and foster mutual respect.
Problem solving, another major component of community policing, encourages officers and citizens to look beyond surface issues in dealing with crime to find lasting solutions. Community policing officers collect information from a variety of sources to help identify patterns leading to recurring crimes. Then they work with citizens to set priorities and develop tailor-made responses. These values emphasize employee participation in planning, open communication, and excellence in the delivery of services to the public. Then this change in thinking must be adopted by other government agencies and the community itself.