Final answer:
Fighting crime effectively requires more than just adding police officers; it involves strategic, community-oriented approaches and a focus on building trust. Targeted patrols, attention to urban blight, and the use of technology in specific areas have been shown to reduce crime. Policing as a public good must be approached through equitable and cost-effective strategies to serve communities justly.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question at hand explores the complexity of fighting crime and the effectiveness of law enforcement strategies. It's not sufficient merely to increase the number of police officers; what is also needed are strategic approaches such as community-oriented policing, attention to urban blight, and targeted patrols. More importantly, these efforts should be oriented towards building trust within communities.
Historically, research like the Kansas City Preventive Patrol Study has shown that simply adding more police officers to patrol did not necessarily reduce crime rates. Instead, initiatives that focus on community involvement, such as neighborhood watch programs and improving street lighting, have been shown to make a positive impact. Additionally, crime prevention should be addressed as a public good that benefits society as a whole, which contrasts with private goods that are exclusive and rival in consumption.
Findings from Criminology & Public Policy highlight how community policing funds can lead to a reduction in crime. Moreover, tackling visual blight in neighborhoods and employing technologies like CCTV in targeted locations can support crime reduction efforts as well. But when it comes to the trade-off of costs and benefits, it's clear that policing strategies must be carefully weighed to ensure they are both equitable and effective, serving communities without giving rise to issues such as racial profiling or police misconduct.