OnPolicing Blog

In recent years, law enforcement agencies across the United States have increasingly recognized the importance of strengthening community trust, improving community relations, and building sustainable partnerships with the community members they serve. Traditional community policing and community-oriented policing services (COP) have long been the primary frameworks for these efforts, and research has shown that COP can improve public satisfaction with police services (Gill et al., 2014).

Yet despite its benefits, COP often lacks a formal, evidence-based structure that guides police officers in developing relationships between police departments and members of the community before crises occur. As policing challenges grow more complex—ranging from violent crime to concerns about police legitimacy, fear of crime, and use of force—agencies require a systematic policing model that equips officers with the skills needed to engage communities proactively. Relationship-based policing offers a promising foundation for meeting this need.

Defining Relationship-Based Policing

Relationship-based policing is defined as “Establishing and maintaining individual relationships with community members and collateral professionals with the purposeful goal of collaborative problem-solving and management of complex community issues” (Mastoras, 2022). This definition emphasizes that relationship-building is not incidental to policing but a deliberate, structured practice rooted in criminology, procedural justice, and community-based engagement.

By focusing on individual-level interaction, relationship-based policing strengthens the pillars of COP and provides a clear framework for community engagement, collaboration, and organizational change (Gill & Mastoras, 2021). Drawing on principles from counseling psychology, the approach helps officers develop meaningful relationships with community members and collateral stakeholders, thereby enhancing strategies such as problem-oriented policing (POP).

Why Community Policing Alone Is Not Enough

Evidence-based policing strategies, including hot spots policing, have long guided officers toward locations where crime is concentrated. Research indicates that integrating POP into hot spots policing can significantly reduce violent crime over time (Koper et al., 2011).

However, many police agencies struggle to implement POP effectively because the strategy requires time, coordination, and sustained collaboration with municipal agencies and community stakeholders. These collaborative efforts depend on strong, reliable relationships, yet officers often lack formal training in how to build relationships and maintain such partnerships (George Mason University Center for Evidence-Based Crime Policy, 2022). Without a structured approach to relationship-building, POP initiatives may be slower to develop and less effective in practice, limiting their potential impact on public safety and crime reduction.

Evidence From the Community Safety Partnership

The Community Safety Partnership (CSP) in Los Angeles illustrates the importance of relationship-building in effective policing. A Route Fifty article highlighted CSP’s problem-oriented approach to reducing violent crime but did not fully acknowledge the foundational relationships CSP officers built with community stakeholders (Potts, 2022). An evaluation conducted by Dr. Jorja Leap of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) found that CSP’s emphasis on trust-building contributed to improved resident confidence, enhanced perceptions of safety, and reductions in conditions associated with gang-related violence (Leap, 2020). These findings underscore that relationship-building is not merely a complementary practice but a critical component of community safety, community engagement, and policing strategies that work.

The Persistent Gap in Officer Training

Police leaders increasingly recognize the value of procedural justice in shaping community perceptions of police legitimacy (Tyler, 2014). De-escalation training has also become a priority for many agencies, particularly in response to high-profile incidents involving use of force (Police Executive Research Forum, 2022). While these efforts are important, they primarily focus on officer behavior during crisis encounters. They do not address the broader challenge of how officers can build relationships with community members and municipal staff to support holistic, prevention-focused strategies.

During my career as a police officer in Arlington County, Virginia, I frequently encountered difficulties in engaging stakeholders and forming the individual relationships required for effective collaboration. Training that addressed this need was limited or unavailable. Although some police leadership figures have used the term “relational policing” (Acevedo, 2019), the concept lacks empirical grounding and a validated training model. Traditional outreach events, such as “Coffee with a Cop,” often attract individuals who already support the police, rather than those most affected by crime or those who may be hesitant to engage with law enforcement. As a result, these events may not reach the community members whose participation is most critical for crime prevention and community relationships.

Why Relationship-Building Must Be Treated as a Core Competency

Collaborative problem-solving with the most affected community members and municipal agencies requires relationship-building skills that extend beyond what officers typically learn in standard training. While some may view relationship-building as common sense or a “soft skill,” developing productive and lasting relationships is a complex endeavor that should be valued as a core competency alongside defensive tactics, firearms training, and emergency vehicle operations. Without structured training, officers may struggle to build the trust and rapport necessary for effective collaboration, limiting the potential of law enforcement initiatives designed to improve community relations and public safety.

A Structured Model for Relationship-Based Policing

To address this gap, Molly C. Mastoras, MA, LPC, developed the Proactive Alliance relationship-based policing approach in 2016. Drawing on evidence-based counseling psychology principles, the model provides officers and municipal enforcement staff with a systematic, replicable framework for building genuine, individual relationships (Mastoras, 2022). The approach directly responds to a key finding in the UCLA CSP evaluation: the need for a structured model that officers can learn and apply consistently. Proactive Alliance equips officers with tools to become agents of change, break down barriers with municipal staff, and engage stakeholders who may be reluctant to work with police (Gill & Mastoras, 2021). This model supports professional development for officers and aligns with broader criminal justice goals promoted by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Demonstrated Impact in Real-World Initiatives

Relationship-based policing has demonstrated its effectiveness in several law enforcement initiatives:

• Arlington Restaurant Initiative (ARI): As the lead of this multi-agency program, I relied on relationship-based policing to reduce alcohol-related violence. The program focused on building productive relationships and trust with bar owners, staff, and security personnel. A unified commitment to relationship-building among county agencies helped persuade bar owners to participate in the first voluntary bar accreditation model in the United States. The initiative raised operational standards through employee policies and training, enabling stakeholders to address potential problems proactively before they escalated. As a result, ARI contributed to a reduction in alcohol-related violence and fostered a collaborative culture among bar owners, municipal agencies, and resident groups (National Institute of Justice, 2019).
• Arlington County Homeless Outreach Coalition: Relationship-based policing also shaped this program, which unified agencies and organizations to address homelessness by breaking down communication barriers, promoting collaborative problem-solving, and developing a coordinated strategy (Arlington County, 2020). The coalition demonstrated how structured relationship-building can support coordinated responses to complex social issues and improve community well-being.
• Community Safety Partnership (CSP): CSP’s success in Los Angeles further illustrates the power of relationship-based approaches. Officers trained to build trust first were able to reduce conditions contributing to gang violence and improve community perceptions of safety (Leap, 2020). The program has become a model referenced in discussions of LAPD, local police, and police chief leadership strategies.

Why Agencies Should Adopt Relationship-Based Policing

The contrast between broad, amorphous community policing and the evidence supporting relationship-based policing is clear. Programs such as CSP, ARI, and the Homeless Outreach Coalition illustrate the value of structured training that equips officers to build relationships with stakeholders when implementing evidence-based policing strategies.

As law enforcement agencies continue to evolve, leaders should support relationship-based policing within their organizations to enhance their capacity for collaborative problem-solving with community members and municipal partners. Doing so strengthens community engagement, improves community safety, and supports the long-term legitimacy of policing practices across the United States.

Partner With Experts to Advance Relationship-Based Policing

Building effective policing strategies that center relationship-based policing requires thoughtful planning, skilled facilitation, and evidence-based guidance. Agencies seeking to deepen community trust, strengthen partnerships, and implement sustainable, relationship-driven approaches can benefit from expert support tailored to their unique needs.

The National Policing Institute offers services to help law enforcement agencies design and implement policing strategies that prioritize relationship-based policing, community engagement, and long-term public safety. Review our Advisory Services.
________________________________________
Dimitrios Mastoras is a retired master police officer from Arlington County, Virginia. He is now a nightlife management and relationship-based policing consultant at Safe Night LLC.

References
Arlington County, Virginia (2020). Arlington Launches Homeless Outreach Coalition. https://www.arlingtonva.us/AboutArlington/News/Articles/2020/Arlington-Launches- Homeless-Outreach-Coalition

George Mason University Center for Evidence-Based Crime Policy (2022). What Works
in Policing? Hot Spots Policing. https://cebcp.org/evidence-based-policing/what-works- in-policing/research-evidence-review/hot-spots policing/#:~:text=Hot%20spots%20policing%20covers%20a,where%20crime%20 is%20highly%20concentrated.

Gill, C., & Mastoras, M. C. (2021). Proactive Alliance: Combining policing and counseling psychology. Journal of Community Safety and Well-Being, 6(3), 112–117. https://doi.org/10.35502/jcswb.193

Gill, C., Weisburd, D., Telep, C.W. et al. (2014). Community-oriented policing to reduce crime, disorder, and fear and increase satisfaction and legitimacy among citizens: a systematic review. J Exp Criminol 10, 399–428. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11292-014-9210-y

Leap, J. (2020). Evaluation of the LAPD Community Safety Partnership. UCLA Luskin. http://www.lapdpolicecom.lacity.org/051220/CSP%20Evaluation%20Report_202 0_FINAL.pdf

Mark43 (2019). Episode 4: How Relational Policing is Saving Lives with Chief Art Acevedo. https://mark43.com/resources/podcast/episode-4-how-relational-policing-is-saving-lives- with-chief-art-acevedo/

Mastoras, M.C., (2022). Proactive Alliance: Combining Policing and Counseling Psychology.

Arizona State University Center for Problem-Oriented Policing https://popcenter.asu.edu/sites/default/files/proactive_alliance_mastoras.pdf

National Institute of Justice (2019). Arlington Restaurant Initiative, Partners Work Together for Safety. https://nij.ojp.gov/library/publications/arlington-restaurant- initiative-partners-work-together-safety

Police Executive Research Forum (2022). ICAT Training. https://www.policeforum.org/icat- training-guide

Potts, J. (2022). Curbing Violent Crime Through Place-based Policing, Route Fifty. https://www.route-fifty.com/public-safety/2022/03/curbing-violent-crime- through-place- based-policing/363096/

Taylor, B., Koper, C. S., Woods, D. J. (2011). A randomized controlled trial of different policing strategies at violent crime hot spots. Journal of Experimental Criminology, 7(2): 149-181. https://cebcp.org/evidence-based-policing/the-matrix/micro- places/micro-places-taylor-et-al-2011/

Tyler, T. (2014). Legitimacy and Procedural Justice: A New Element of Police Leadership, U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs. https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual- library/abstracts/legitimacy-and-procedural-justice-new-element-police-leadership