Community policing differs from traditional policing in that it is something of a hybrid; there is no exact definition of it, and community policing is more of a neighborhood philosophy than an actual system or procedure. Community members involved in it are not officers of the law, and are usually expected to only provide assistance in the form of monitoring the neighborhood. Basically, it relies on a cooperation between the police and the citizens, one in which the latter take a more direct role in preserving an area’s safety, and operating within the guidelines set down by the police and the law.

Neighborhood watches are an example of community policing in action, and these are when residents set up teams to routinely keep an eye out for potential criminal activity. Along these lines are “walk throughs”, which also involve citizens on the alert for crime, and ready to report it. Community policing, done well, empowers a neighborhood to play a part in its own safety, as it also helps to foster a healthy relationship with the local police. It translates to an environment wherein the community is more vigilant, and where each resident is protective of his neighbors. Community policing also exists more to discourage crime than to apprehend it, and this in itself is a great benefit for the area.