Neighborhood Differences in Attitudes Toward Policing: Evidence For a Mixed-Strategy Model of Policing in a Multi-Ethnic Setting

There are prevalent in society two general conceptions of the duties of the police officer. Middle class people feel that he should enforce the law without fear or favor. Cornerville people and many of the officers themselves believe that the policeman should have the confidence of the people in his area so that he can settle many difficulties in a personal manner without making arrests. These two conceptions are in a large measure contradictory.'