Summary
This research used Normandeau and Leighton's (1990) definition of community policing as an analytical framework to identify community policing in practice as implemented by the Ottawa Police Service. Five research questions were developed to examine the knowledge and perceptions of community policing among eight police officers and five community members currently involved in community policing. These perceptions were then supplemented by direct observation at five police-community meetings and analysis of the Ottawa Police Service website. The findings have demonstrated that indeed community policing is well perceived by police and community members involved in community policing. However, it is unclear how prevalent these perceptions are outside of those directly involved in community policing. There was no consensus among police officers that a community policing philosophy has become part of mainstream policing. It's clear that the Ottawa Police Service has philosophical, organizational and tactical components of community policing currently in place but the extent to which they are emphasized is unclear. The findings suggest that, regardless of the future direction taken by The Ottawa Police Service, they must take into account several developments since the inception of community policing and most importantly strive to maintain accountability.