I recently read another city's newspaper headlines where their police chief was terminated by the incoming mayor. The rationale for the chief's dismissal was that the new mayor wanted a police chief that was fully committed to community policing. This city in question did not have a crime problem; that police chief was doing a good job according to the story writer; so, what was the real reason here? I would suspect the "P" word (politics), but I waited. When the job announcement for the new chief was released, the answer was in the first sentence: "a chief that is totally committed to community policing." I still did not believe; yet I was dangerously close to the truth. What is the real truth today behind community policing today?

Going back to the reason for this article, I did not know this chief personally. Therefore, this is not some public defense. I did some deeper research. There was a change in political party affiliation with this new mayor. Those of us who have been in this business for several years know it all lies amongst political lines. During the Clinton administration, community policing was the catchword. It was the "cash cow" for every police agency and the city it served. Cities got money hand over fist. Equipment, personnel and overtime galore--this was a way to reach out and touch the masses. It was a good methodology to fill in some social gaps to the disadvantaged. Grants were the word of the day and it was community policing via any and every methodology known to mankind for a while. If you wanted foot, bike, or horse patrols, or substations--you got it! Then, when the new toy wasn't so shiny and cute anymore, some departments were called in to actually validate and bring in their grants within reason.

Now, it's post-9/11, and the Bush administration has had redirected most all law enforcement monies towards homeland security. All of the "feel good" programs have withered up and many have died because of a lack of local funding. The local tax dollar never supported the COPS programs; it was the federal money that was the deep pocket. It is difficult for a local chief or sheriff to get the troops to do these programs on their time; it was the grant money overtime that fueled the COPS train. This was especially prevalent in strongly unionized departments or those with strong contracts. To most, it was all about the money. However, there were some officers that were genuine about the mission. The truth is that is it is difficult to get jaded cops to sing "kum by ya" without money leading the choir.