CITIZEN SATISFACTION WITH POLICE AND COMMUNITY POLICING

Abstract

This article attempts to shed light on citizen satisfaction with police in a community policing environment. It specifically aims to analyze the influence of quality of police contact, police work ratings in terms of collaboration with local community, neighborhood ratings, victimization, and feeling of safety in the neighborhood. The study found that the most important predictor of citizen satisfaction with the police was police work ratings. Feeling of safety was a moderate level predictor of citizen satisfaction. The analysis confirmed our hypothesis that those who feel unsafe or victimized previously maintain a less satisfaction toward the police. The results of this study have implications for community policing activities intended to increase citizen satisfaction with police. As shown in this study, police rating in terms of collaboration with public has a strong positive effect on increasing satisfaction with police which confirms the utility of main philosophy of community policing. In this respect, gaining public support and involvement is critical for successful police services.