Building on the strength of previous editions:

            The fourth edition of Oliver’s community-oriented policing textbook presents an expanded and slightly reformatted textbook in order to clearly present the current state of community-oriented policing in America and across the globe.  The results of over 50 peer-review studies in community-oriented policing are included in the latest edition, as well as the numerous writings on community-oriented policing over the previous three years.  The book has been reformatted by eliminating the synthesis chapter from the previous editions in order to bring the expanded book back into a more acceptable format and size of 15 chapters without losing the comprehensive scope as seen in previous editions.  In addition, current material related to the discussion of community-oriented policing in an era of Homeland Security is addressed, as well as the recent federal budget cuts to community-oriented policing programs. 

Also New to the Fourth Edition:

            *New photos from police department community-oriented policing programs across the United States

            *Updated box material presenting examples of community-oriented policing in action

            *The latest research and debate on the systemic approach to policing

“I think Oliver does an excellent job of organizing the book around specific topics or subjects — and then covers each in an appropriate manner.  The chapter flow and the level of rigor are both consistent and appropriate.”                        

“The material in the text is current . . . and the author is positive about community-oriented policing, which is understandable, [but] I think the author is also aware of the real issues about community-oriented policing and the possibility that some things might not work.  I would definitely use the text by Oliver”                 

“The content of the text is excellent.  The completeness and diligence of the research, and the compilation and interpretation of the information discovered, is obvious.  The utilization of tables, figures, photographs, etc., is well done and appropriate for a text of this type.  In my opinion Professor Oliver has done an outstanding job in combining this collective wisdom into a readable text.”

Willard M. Oliver

1.      The Evolution of Community-Oriented Policing

2.      Community-Oriented Policing Defined

3.      Strategic-Oriented Policing

4.      Neighborhood-Oriented Policing

5.      Problem-Oriented Policing

6.      Implementing Community-Oriented Policing

7.      Organization and Management

8.      The Role of the Police

9.      The Role of the Community

10.  The Role of the Police Chief

11.  Evaluation

12.  The Federal Role in Community-Oriented Policing

13.  Comparative Community-Oriented Policing

14.  Caveats

15.  The Future