How to Increase Law Enforcement to Reduce Crime Rate
- 1). Approach the funding source for a particular law enforcement agency with a detailed and comprehensive proposal to increase the number of police officers or sheriff's deputies on payroll. Within the proposal itself, include a proposition for additional funding to ensure a broader and more frequent officer presence in public around the community. Typically such a proposal is made to the city council or the county commission.
- 2). Create community interest in and support of the enhanced policing proposal. Local units of government are more likely to respond affirmatively to such a proposal if there is demonstrable support within the community at large.
- 3). Initiate a petition drive as a means of demonstrating to elected officials the depth of support within the community for an enhanced police presence as a tool to reduce crime.
- 4). Arrange for testimony and presentations before the governing body by experts in the field of law enforcement. Focus on individuals who have hands-on experience in implementing programs to increase law enforcement officer numbers and community presence as a means of reducing overall crime rates. Select experts from similar communities that have enacted this type of program.
- 5). Schedule community forums featuring these experts as well.
- 6). Identify funding sources beyond local government coffers to assist in offsetting the additional expense of this type of community policing enhancement. The U.S. Department of Justice maintains grant programs to assist local communities in this regard. Many states also maintain similar types of grant programs to aid counties and municipalities in increasing police staff numbers and community presence as part of an overall effort aimed at reducing crime.
- 7). Work with members of the city council or county commission who are sold on the concept of lowering crime through enhanced law enforcement to draft an appropriate ordinance or resolution.
Source...