Which statement describes the goal of community policing?

The goal of community policing is to enhance personal relationships between officers and citizens. This approach emphasizes building trust and collaboration between law enforcement and the community they serve. By fostering strong relationships, community policing aims to create a cooperative environment where citizens feel empowered to actively participate in crime prevention and resolution efforts.

This strategy recognizes the importance of understanding community needs and concerns, which helps foster a proactive response to crime and disorder, rather than just reacting to incidents after they occur. By improving communication and cooperation, community policing aims to not only reduce crime but also improve public safety and quality of life for residents.

The other options do not reflect the primary focus of community policing. For instance, simply increasing the number of arrests does not align with the community-centered approach that seeks to engage with citizens and proactively address the underlying issues causing crime. A focus solely on data-driven crime analysis overlooks the human and relational aspects that are vital in establishing trust. Lastly, acting independently of community needs contradicts the core principles of community policing, which is fundamentally about working in partnership with the community to enhance safety and well-being.