Community Policing is a policing philosophy that promotes and supports organizational strategies to address the causes and reduce the fear of crime and social disorder through problem solving strategies and community-police partnerships.

A fundamental shift from traditoinal, reactive policing, Community Policing stresses pro-active problem solving with the community. Community Policing is an integral part of combating crime and improving the quality of life in the nation's cities, towns and rural areas. Core components of Community Policing include partnering with the community; problem solving; and transforming policing agencies to support and empower frontline officer, decentralize command and encourage innovative problem solving. Today, communities across Maine and the U.S. are actively engaged in Community Policing.