In 1994, President Clinton signed a crime bill that was part of his campaign promise to put 100,000 more law enforcement officers on the streets of America’s communities. The bill was designed to fight crime and help residents take back their streets from criminals. Since that time, crime rates have steadily declined every year to their lowest rate in three decades (Clinton 1). President Clinton (2061) argued that the concept of collaboration between communities and local law enforcement is one of the biggest reasons for the success his administration experienced in reducing crime rates “One of the most important factors in our success is the Community Oriented Policing Service (COPS) program, which has funded over 105,000 police officer for our streets.”
COPS programs have been implemented throughout the country, typically experiencing a high degree of success in helping reduce crime, foster community cohesion, and restoring optimism among community residents regarding fears of safety. Oregon has received funding for five communities under the COPS Universal Hiring Program which is administered by the Department of Justice COPS program. Over a three-year period, the program provides funding for 75 percent of the total salary and benefits of each new-hire officer, up to the maximum of $75,000 (Smith 1). As Oregon Senator Gordon Smith stated in light of the recent award “Through programs such as this, citizens have a better opportunity to know the officers in their neighborhoods. The partnership between communities and law enforcement creates a safer Oregon for all of us” (Smith 1).
Yet, despite the political optimism and rosy statistics regarding crime reduction that are attributed to community policing services programs, some critics of the program argue that it has not been effective and is a drain on taxpayer income in comparison to its ineffectiveness. For example, Ingra
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