Interesting Upside to High Gas Prices

The higher cost of gas is having a major impact on police department budgets and some are reacting by a return to community policing with true interaction.

To cut fueling costs, police are being asked to walk around neighborhoods more and enter shops and talk with the owners, workers, and patrons. The concept of community policing which originated in Japan involved having the police accepted as part of the community.

Riding around in a police car with the windows up because of heat or cold means a reliance on only one sense: visual. The community sees a police presence as the car rolls by and groups scatter when the car is noticed. All of this is definitely positive, but the one-on-one association with community leaders and members is best achieved by personal intervention in natural settings.

There are definite costs and benefits to consider. For a good overview of things being done around the country, this is a good article to read.