Social Capital

Two of the most fundamental and indispensable qualities of a thriving community are public safety and social order. Police cannot hope to be successful in addressing neighborhood crime and disorder without partnering with the community’s members; this is the nexus of “community” and “policing.” Building partnerships between citizens and police is part of a larger community-building movement which requires high levels of trust and engagement.

Having members of a community who are bonded together, looking out for one another, and willing to engage in collective action when threatened is key to the peaceful coexistence if not the very survival of an orderly society. This entry explains how social capital is defined and how the concept relates to community policing.