What study examined the impact of police presence on crime and community satisfaction levels?

The Kansas City Preventive Patrol Experiment is a landmark study that specifically investigated the effects of varying levels of police patrol on crime rates and community satisfaction. Conducted in the early 1970s, the experiment involved dividing Kansas City into different areas, with some receiving regular patrol, some receiving no patrol (reactive), and others receiving increased patrol.

The findings showed that the levels of patrol had little to no significant impact on crime rates, challenging the traditional belief that more police presence directly correlates with increased safety. However, it did reveal insights into community perceptions of safety and satisfaction, indicating that residents were more concerned with how responsive the police were rather than the sheer number of officers patrolling their neighborhoods. This study significantly influenced policing strategies and how police departments assess their impact on communities.

While the other studies mentioned also examined various aspects of policing and community interactions, they did not focus as directly on the connection between police presence specifically and tangible outcomes like crime and community satisfaction levels.