Commentary on Smart Policing

• Author: James K. Stewart,Nola M. Joyce,Charles H. Ramsey
• Published date: 01 September 2013
• Date: 01 September 2013
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/1098611113497043
• Subject Matter: Articles

Article

Commentary on

Smart Policing

Nola M. Joyce

1

, Charles H. Ramsey

1

,

and James K. Stewart

2

Abstract

Police professionals and practitioners offer reflections and commentary on the art-

icles describing the Smart Policing Initiatives in Boston, Glendale, Los Angeles, and

Lowell. According to the authors, police collaborations are vital to decision making

regarding police policies and practices, yet they are not “natural.”Police–researcher

collaborations require a conscious effort by both parties to overcome traditional

organizational cultures and barriers to collaboration, and to establish, nurture, and

maintain trust. The commentators also note the importance of technology and

sophisticated analytics, as well as the key role played by problem-solving in Smart

Policing Initiatives; a process that, again, requires a strong, trustful research

collaboration.

Keywords

policing, police science, research partnerships, innovation

Introduction

This concluding article provides commentaries on the smart policing initiative

(SPI) from two perspectives. First, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles

Ramsey and Deputy Commissioner Nola Joyce reflect on several themes they

identified in the articles about the four Smart Policing sites presented in this

issue of Police Quarterly from the perspective of police practitioners.

1

Philadelphia Police Department, Philadelphia, PA, USA

2

CAN, Alexandria, VA, USA

Corresponding author:

Nola M. Joyce, Deputy Commissioner, Philadelphia Police Department, One Franklin Square, Room

310A, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA.

Email: Nola.joyce@phila.gov

Police Quarterly

16(3) 358–368

!The Author(s) 2013

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DOI: 10.1177/1098611113497043

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