Innovations in Policing: Patrol Motivation in Crime Prevention Initiatives

The Yorkville Police Department had been struggling to get the patrol division to buy into the crime prevention philosophy for years. Although patrol officers would follow orders and assist in a community project when necessary, they had not been self-motivated to initiate and complete any community crime prevention efforts of their own. There was a stigma attached to this community policing effort and it was looked down upon and construed as a nonpolicing activity by the core officers. The administration’s problem was to change the view of this important policing technique. The mindset needed to be changed to create a team effort and not to rely on one officer to complete the crime prevention program for the entire city.