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Nope, crime is actually going down here across the board in my city.
Community policing here is at its best. The officers actually stop and have a friendly chat (it really is friendly unless you're acting suspicious) with anyone they don't recognize. They stop *everyone* to do this. I am about as innocent and goodie-two-shoe's looking as they come and I've been stopped. Once they know who you are, you always get a smile and wave when they cruise past.
EDIT: I mean they stop you when you're walking around the area; I live in an extremely pedestrian friendly part of town where it takes longer to drive to many places than it does to just walk.
The cops want to know how belongs around here and who doesn't. If you don't belong here, they are not going to give you a hard time, but they are going to keep their eye on you.
That's why we have virtually no crime. And, if you do call the cops, they are usually here within 45 seconds, as is the fire department.
They started this community policing thing after we had something like nine homicides in one year in a city of 40,000 two or three years ago.
It seems to be working great. They are adequately policing without being overbearing or intrusive.
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