Should police officers be required to physically reside within their agency’s boundaries?

This week, you reviewed the development of community policing. Improving relations between local police and the communities they serve is a key component of modern police strategy. This week’s discussion will examine certain aspects of these strategies.

• Residency requirements have long been a debated issue in policing and law enforcement. The central issue is the residency of police officers. Should police officers be required to physically reside within their agency’s boundaries? Discuss the benefits and drawbacks of such a policy.
• Local police agencies strive to attract recruits who help the agency match the ethnic and demographic makeup of the community. What should be done if an agency simply does not receive applications from qualified recruits who meet the desired description?
• Should the citizenship requirement for police officers be revised based upon the increasing rate of immigrants in urban areas and the changing threats to domestic security?