The Lancaster Bureau of Police shall be operated
in accordance with a community policing approach. This approach will
emphasize crime prevention and education, recognizing that major crime
is encouraged when neighborhoods are allowed to deteriorate. The approach
will balance reactive responses to calls for services with proactive
problem-solving centered on the causes of crime and disorder. Community
policing will encourage positive relationships, shared responsibilities
and mutual trust and respect between officers and the community that
they serve. In support thereof, the Bureau on an ongoing basis will
do the following:
A. The Chief of Police will divide the City into sectors
for the purpose of establishing areas of service for the Officers;
B. Officers shall patrol those sectors to which they
are assigned in manners that result in high visibility and interaction
with residents. Such patrolling should employ bicycles and foot patrols
as is practicable;
C. Officers assigned to sectors shall be involved in
developing a plan for policing their sector, which shall be reviewed
and updated by their Sergeant who shall approve and monitor its implementation;
D. Officers assigned to sectors shall be involved in
and with those community-based organizations which represent or are
composed of residents in that sector;
E. Officers shall receive training in the community policing
approach;
F. A priority of the Bureau, pursuant to the community
policing approach, shall be to provide courteous and professional
police services and responses at every level; and
G. The Chief of Police shall report to Council, on a
quarterly basis, the implementation of the community policing approach.
The foregoing shall apply to the entire Lancaster
Bureau of Police.