Dr Emma Smith1, Dr. Doug Thomson1
1Humber College, Toronto, Canada
This presentation will detail the ongoing collaboration between the Toronto Police Services Neighbourhood Community Officer Program (NCOP) and Humber College. For the past 6 years, academics from Humber College have been evaluating the effectiveness of the NCOP through community and police surveys and data analysis. The NCOP have in turn incorporated the results and recommendations into their program, providing a consistent exchange of ideas and improvements.
The community surveys provide a non-crime data method of assessment, one that is critical for modern policing, while the external consulting creates an unbiased assessment of this community based program. One that is vital in the current climate. The NCOP have allowed the researchers to evaluate the attitudes and opinions of the officers, provide input into their training, and work in close collaboration. New methods of assessment, training and the creation of micro-credentials will be explored.
Neighbourhood Community Policing cannot be measured by the usual yardsticks of the number of arrests, tickets and crime data. Their effectiveness is when they are seen as part of the community in which they serve, moving from a crime focus to a community wellbeing focus. This Police – Academic partnership allows for insight and innovation into the NCOP work, gives the officers on the ground an external voice, and informs research in policing.
Biography:
Dr. Emma Smith – Program Coordinator and Professor in the Bachelor of Social Science – Criminal Justice program.
Emma Smith is a Criminal Justice Professor at Humber College (Toronto) and a doctoral graduate from Toronto Metropolitan University and York University’s Communication and Culture program. Her research interests include documentary representations of female murderers, reality television’s (re)production of crime narratives, prison structures, the commodification of crime in popular culture and Canadian policing systems. She is currently working with the Toronto Police Service on projects associated with the Neighborhood Community Officer program. Themes of gender, social inequality, and cultural identity infuse her research.
Dr. Doug Thomson – Professor in the Bachelor of Social Science – Criminal Justice program.
Doug Thomson is a Criminal Justice Professor and the Principal Investigator on SSHRC funded research on the effectiveness of Toronto Police Services Enhanced Neighbourhood Officer program (2018-2021), Investigator on the SSHRC funded 5 year study of the effectiveness of the Toronto Police Services Neighbourhood Officer Program (2014-2018). Conducted Humber College SEED funded research into innovating teaching methods (The Ubuntu Table and Digital Natives). Researcher on community safety and wellbeing for Downtown Yonge Business Improvement Area, Toronto (2017-2021) and Guelph Business Association (2020).