Exploring the limits of collaboration and the fragility of its outcomes: The case of community policing

Abstract

Understanding collaboration between the government and community leaders or organizations is essential for effectively delivering services and creating public value. Interorganizational collaboration is particularly salient in communities of color when considering how historic exclusions of marginalized voices have inhibited equity. This study draws upon 88 in-depth, semistructured interviews on collaboration (and its limits) between the police and community in Hartford, Connecticut, US. Using this context, the findings highlight the limits of collaborative community policing with regard to resources, reach, expectations, implementation, and power balances. Moreover, even after overcoming challenges, the translation of collaborative actions (e.g., community policing) into social outcomes (e.g., police–community relations) is fragile. For instance, leadership or critical incidents can influence whether community policing activities actually lead to gains in police–community relations. Taken as a whole, this study demonstrates how collaboration unfolds with community organizations, how it impacts police–community relations in communities of color, and the limitations thereof.