Rethinking Community Policing

Rethinking Community Policing by John M. Ray, published by LFB Scholarly Publishing LLC in 2014, is a 208-page exploration of the challenges facing community policing in contemporary law enforcement. Written in English, this book examines how data-driven practices such as COMPSTAT and Intelligence-Led Policing are overshadowing community policing efforts, which were initially designed to enhance community engagement and reduce crime.

In this edition, Ray argues that the decline of community policing stems from its lack of a solid theoretical foundation, particularly in its approach to community engagement. He critiques the uncritical adoption of pluralism that emphasizes differences between police and community groups, and proposes deliberative democratic theory as a potential solution. By drawing on historical sources, Ray also posits the inevitability of community policing in America, providing readers with a comprehensive analysis of its past and future within the realms of political science and social science.