Jou nal o Social Sciences Vol. VIII, no. 1 (2025), pp. 157 - 168
Fascicle Social Science ISSN 2587-3490
Topic Sociology eISSN 2587-3504
Jou nal o Social Sciences Ma ch, 2025, Vol. 8
h ps://doi.o g/10.52326/jss.u m.2025.8(1).11
UDC 351.746:316.3:303(630)
CHALLENGES OF EMPOWERING LOCAL COMMUNITY: THE CASE OF ADDIS
ABABA POLICE COMMISSION
Dawi Habe egab ael*, ORCID: 0009-0003-8136-6070
Addis Ababa Uni e si y, Addis Ababa, E hiopia
* Co esponding au ho : Dawi Habe egab ael, zeb [email protected]
Recei ed: 02. 20. 2025
Accep ed: 03. 25. 2025
Abs ac . This s udy p obes he challenges o implemen he s a egies o communi y policing
in empowe ing he communi y a Ke ena 09, Addis Ke ema Sub ci y. The sub ci y was selec ed
a e a compa ison was made among he ele en sub-ci ies o police in he me o Poli ian. To
make he compa ison objec i e, he s udy used he c ime s a ics epo ed in he pas h ee
yea s. Quali a i e me hod was he s a egy employed o meaning da a om in-dep h
in e iew solici ed om 22 key in o man s selec ed based on he eligibili y c i e ia. Six
esiden s, se en membe s o he ke ene ad iso y council, and nine police o ice s we e inally
iden i ied. Da a ga he ed om in-dep h in e iews we e analyzed hema ically. The indings
indica e ha he communi y olicing s uc u e begins om amily police a he g ass oo s
le el and hie a ically g ows o block and ke ene council. The challenges a e misusing he
communi y policing philosophies o poli ical gain, labeling and silencing c i ical oices,
misusage o powe and disempowe ing he lowe s uc u e whe e he police a e he e o
deli e se ices. The s udy ecommends he go e nmen o icials, police chie s, and
communi y policing boa ds o e iew he policies, ope a ional p ocedu es, and s uc u al
a angemen s and de elop esea ch in o med amewo ks o ee he implemen a ion om
unnecessa y g ounds and poli ical in luences.
Keywo ds: Communi y Empowe ing, Communi y Policing, Ke ena Council, Poli ical Bene i s.
Rezuma . Aces a icol analizează p o ocă ile de implemen a e a s a egiilo de poliție
comuni a ă în împu e nici ea comuni ății din Ke ena 09, o așul Addis Ke ema, ca e a os
selec a după ce s-a ăcu o compa ație în e cele unsp ezece secții ale poliției din me oul
Poli ian. Pen u a ace compa ația obiec i ă, s udiul a olosi s a is icile c iminali ății
apo a e în ul imii ei ani. Me oda cali a i ă a implica s a egia u iliza ă pen u a însemna
da ele din in e iul ap o unda solici a de la 22 de in o ma o i cheie selec ați pe baza
c i e iilo de eligibili a e. În cele din u mă, au os iden i icați șase ezidenți, șap e memb i ai
consiliului consul a i pen u comuni a ea din Ke ena 09 și nouă o ițe i de poliție. Da ele
culese din in e iu i ap o unda e au os analiza e ema ic. Cons a ă ile indică ap ul că
s uc u a poliției comuni a e începe de la poliția de amilie la ni el de bază și c eș e hie a ic
până la bloc și consiliu o ășenesc. P o ocă ile sun : olosi ea g eși ă a ilozo iei de poliție
comuni a ă pen u câș igu i poli ice, e iche a ea și educe ea la ăce e a ocilo c i ice,
158 H. Dawi
Jou nal o Social Sciences Ma ch, 2025, Vol. 8
olosi ea abuzi ă a pu e ii și dezabili a ea s uc u ii in e ioa e, în ca e poliția a e da o ia de
a u niza se icii. S udiul ecomandă o icialilo gu e namen ali, șe ilo de poliție și consiliilo
de poliție comuni a ă să e izuiască poli icile, p ocedu ile ope aționale și a anjamen ele
s uc u ale, să dez ol e cad e baza e pe ce ce a e pen u a elimina mo i ele inu ile și
in luențele poli ice.
Cu in e cheie: Împu e nici ea comuni ății, poliția comuni a ă, consiliul Ke ena, bene icii poli ice.
1. In oduc ion
Mode n policing is he p oduc o nume ous e o ms and changes made o mode nize
he police se ice since he medie al pe iod. The social, economic, poli ical, and
echnological ad ancemen s con ibu e o he de elopmen o police p o essionalism [1]. The
ancien Roman e a had conside able in luence and is a ajec o y on mode n-day policing o
he ancien pe iod eco ded in his o y. In England, Hen y Fielding Bow S ee Runne ’s
es ablishmen in 1748 and Peelian e o m con ibu ed o he de elopmen o mode n
policing [2]. Si Robe Peel, a pionee and he “ a he o mode n policing” p oposed a e u n
o he Anglo-Saxon p inciple o indi idual communi y o p ese ing law and o de [2]. The
c ea ion o he police wan ed o limi he poli ical and mili a y na u e o he new police, bu
he economic, poli ical, and social na u e was ins umen al in helping hem o achie e hei
aim [3].
Policing is cha ac e ized by c ime con ol as he p ima y unc ion, a cen alized
e icien o ganiza ion, p o essional emo eness om he communi y, and emphasis on
p e en i e mo o ized pa ol and apid esponse o c ime [4]. The poo s a e o police-
communi y ela ions, he need o a mo e di e se police wo k o ce, he ine ec i eness o
adi ional police s a egies, and he need o mo e lexibili y wi hin police o ganiza ions a e
a he o e on in police p ac ices [4]. The in e ac ion o police wi h he communi y h ough
communi y policing, he only pla o m b inging bo h he police and he communi y on boa d
o mu ually iden i y and sol e communi y p oblems.
The police communi y ela ion de elops only he deg ee o engagemen o he
communi y in decision making. Pa ne ship be ween police and he communi y e e s o he
join wo king a angemen s whe e he police, he business communi y, and o he
s akeholde s collabo a e in all s eps o designing and implemen ing he s a egies c a ed o
d aw he conce ed e o s in comba ing c ime [5]. The main objec i e o his ype o
pa ne ship is o de e mine communi y, police, and o he agencies' needs h ough
consul a ion o p omo e accoun abili y, anspa ency, and e ec i eness [6]. Mabunda [5]
a gued ha applying he communi y policing model in he police p ac ice will lead o a
g ea e sense o pa ne ship be ween he communi y and a ious uni s wi hin he Police
depa men . Communi y policing c ea es pla o ms and social ne wo ks o add ess he needs
o a communi y. I is impossible o ackle c ime solely by he police o any o he single agency
and main ain a holis ic and pa ne ship app oach based on sha ed e o , in o ma ion,
esou ces, and expe ise among agencies [5]. C ime p oblems a e con olled by o ming
pa ne ships wi h g oups, indi iduals, o ganiza ions, and o he go e nmen agencies wi hin
he communi y [7]. In suppo o he abo e explana ions, Mabunda [8] has u he desc ibed
ha c ime goes down when ci izens, police, and o he o ganiza ions wo k oge he in
pa ne ship. I equi es commi men om bo h sides o make he pa ne ship success ul.
Communi y empowe men and ac i e pa icipa ion a e essen ial o mi iga e he sca ci y o
Challenges in Empowe ing Local Communi y: he case o Addis Ababa Police Commission 159
Jou nal o Social Sciences Ma ch, 2025, Vol. 8
di e s' esou ces ga he ing om he neighbo hood communi y o sol e c ime and social
p oblems.
The global mo emen in policing eques ed he global police o adop communi y
policing p inciples o be esponsi e agains e o ism, a icking in pe sons, and d ug abuse.
Communi y policing is a ecen philosophy o policing u ging police depa men s o es ablish
collabo a i e pa ne ships o add ess c ime and sa e y- ela ed conce ns a he g ass oo s
le el [9]. Communi y policing is an al e na i e app oach o he con en ional model o
policing, which na owly de ines he ole o police in e ms o law en o cemen and o de
main enance [10]. B oadening he manda e o he police o assume a mo e p oac i e ole is
placed a he hea o he philosophy o communi y policing [11-12]. Acco dingly, police a e
expec ed o apply s a egies aimed a imp o ing neighbo hood condi ions o enhance he
quali y o li e o ci izens in bo h u al and u ban a eas. Howe e , achie ing hese goals
demands he police es ablish a new ela ionship wi h he public by empowe ing communi y
g oups and indi idual ci izens o pa icipa e in iden i ying and sol ing communi y p oblems.
Communi y pa ne ship, p oblem-sol ing, and o ganiza ional ans o ma ion a e essen ial
componen s in he philosophy o communi y policing. Pa ne ship e e s o join wo king
a angemen s whe eby he police, he business communi y, he communi y in each
neighbo hood, and o he s akeholde s collabo a e o design and implemen s a egies aimed
a comba ing c ime [5]. The main objec i e o his ype o pa ne ship is o de e mine he
communi y, police, and o he agencies' needs h ough consul a ion o p omo e
accoun abili y, anspa ency, and e ec i eness. Mabunda [5] a gued ha he implemen a ion
o communi y policing will lead o a g ea e sense o pa ne ship be ween he communi y
and a ious uni s wi hin he police depa men . P oblem-sol ing, on he o he hand, in ol es
an in e ac i e p ocess whe ein police and communi ies wo k join ly o iden i y unde lying
causes and solu ions o communi y p oblems [11,13-14]. P oblem-sol ing, hen, can be
iewed as a p ocess o in e ening o al e , change, o elimina e he exhibi ed p oblem [15].
Es ablishing pa ne ships and sol ing p oblems need s uc u al ans o ma ion and change
o ope a ional p ocedu es in he e y na u e o he s uc u e o police depa men s.
O ganiza ional ans o ma ion in his con ex implies decen alizing he police se ice,
g an ing bo om-line o ice s o exe cise meaning ul powe , and ecei ing inpu om ci izens.
Communi y policing has a b ie his o y in E hiopia. The philosophy is in oduced o
mee one o he objec i es o pa ne ing he police wi h he communi y o pu he conce ed
e o o bo h pa ies o p o ec he li ing neighbo hood om c iminals, an i-social beha io s,
and anomalies. On he one hand, di e en p og ams conduc ed o b ing a holis ic change in
police se ices we e in line wi h he E hiopian Police Doc ine g adua ed ou yea s ago o
es ablish consensus on sha ed alues o undamen ally p e en c ime based on public
pa icipa ion. The p esence o he doc ine especially helped o a oid misconcep ions and
misunde s andings abou he police and u u e ends o policing pa ne ing he communi y
in iden i ying and sol ing he communi y p oblems. Addis Ababa police adop ed he
communi y policing model as a leading policing s a egy o mee public demand and a ain
se ice imp o emen . The aim is o encou age he public o ac i ely pa icipa e in decision-
making p ocesses o alle ia e social p oblems and main ain o de in pu ing e o s wi h he
a ea police.
The communi y policing s uc u e in Addis Ababa Police Commission (AAPC) a sub-
ci y le el includes h ee componen s; amily polices, block s uc u e, and Ke ena/dis ic
ad iso y council. The amily police cons i u e he smalles uni in communi y policing
160 H. Dawi
Jou nal o Social Sciences Ma ch, 2025, Vol. 8
implemen a ion s uc u e a Ke ena le el. The e y eason o ins i u ing ‘ he amily’ police in
he s uc u e o communi y policing o decen alize he police se ice down o he household
le el in o de o acili a e a se ing whe e p oblems a e esol ed wi hou causing ha m o he
e y amily s uc u e. De ol ing ac ual powe down o o dina y ci izens is he o he a ionale
o ins i u ing amily police in he implemen a ion amewo k o documen p oblems
encoun e ed and co ec i e measu es aken a he household le el. The block s uc u e is in
place o help he implemen a ion o he communi y policing p og ams a he neighbo hood
le el and i is esponsible o mobilizing esiden s a block le el. The ad iso y council is
manda ed o coo dina e he e o s o esiden s while ensu ing local peace and s abili y. This
s uc u e in ol es in mobilizing esiden s o aise unds ele an o building communi y
policing cen e s a he Ke ena le el and iden i ying and p io i izing majo communi y
conce ns a he Ke ena le el. The council se es as a liaison be ween communi y esiden s
and he local adminis a ion. Communi y policing s uc u es, pa icula ly he Ke ena ad iso y
council, a e c ucial in making he police se ice accessible o o dina y ci izens a he
g ass oo s le el. Second, he Ke ena ad iso y council helps p o ide esiden s wi h he
oppo uni y o con ol he way hey a e policed. The ad iso y council enabled esiden s o
ques ion he quali y o se ices ha he police p o ide a he Ke ena le el.
Though communi y policing ecei es high a en ion ac oss he police depa men s in
he coun y, he s udies conduc ed o unde s and he ole played by he communi y and
police pa ne ship a e a e and inadequa e. Hence, mos o he knowledge abou mul iple
aspec s o communi y policing in E hiopia e e s o he implemen a ion a he han
examining he ela ionships be ween police and he communi y. The o icial epo s p oduced
by he police depa men s do no depic he ac ual s a us o communi y policing since he
epo s lack ac s on he g ound and empi ically suppo ed e idence. Simila ly, he exis ing
empi ical s udies a e no enough o p esen he s a us o communi y policing ac oss he
coun y. Focusing on a smalle geog aphic uni , his s udy explo ed he challenges o police
o achie e he communi y policing goals and objec i es in Addis Ababa, E hiopia. Mo e
speci ically, he s udy ocused on examining he s uc u al ba ie s demo i a ing he ac i e
engagemen o he public in iden i ying and sol ing he p oblems o c ime in he
neighbo hood oge he wi h he a ea police.
This a icle sheds ligh on he p ac ical implica ion o communi y policing o
unde s and he con ibu ion posed by o educe he end o c ime and public ea o c ime
in he s udy a ea. I is wi h his knowledge and unde s anding ha he communi y and police
align in pa ne ship o sa egua d and p o ec ci izens om c ime and unlaw ul deeds. To his
end, he s udy p o ides alid in o ma ion on he gaps no disco e ed in ano he esea ch. The
indings u he con ibu e new knowledge o he exis ing ones empowe ing he communi y
o pa icipa e in communi y policing p ac ices meaning ully and ac i ely. On he o he hand,
he esul s b ing p ac i ione s, policymake s, and esea che s oge he o discuss he p ospec
o policing o undamen ally o e haul he police se ice o ensu e ci izens’ oices and
p io i ies a e app op ia ely ep esen ed.
2. Ma e ials and Me hods
The s udy employed quali a i e design. Quali a i e design is p e e ed when li le is
known abou he esea ch p oblem. This is due o communi y policing is no well s udied,
and li le accoun o empi ical inqui ies exis s in E hiopia. Besides, quali a i e app oach is
p e e able o ha es an in-dep h accoun o a phenomenon, o issues o wa ded o a
Challenges in Empowe ing Local Communi y: he case o Addis Ababa Police Commission 161
Jou nal o Social Sciences Ma ch, 2025, Vol. 8
phenomenon. Thus, his s udy in ends o widely explo e he challenges es ic ing he
implemen a ion o communi y policing in oduced in he a ea police o p e en c ime h ough
os e ing pa ne ship be ween police and he a ea communi y.
This s udy was conduc ed in Ke ena 09, loca ed in wo eda/dis ic 08 o Addis Ke ema
sub-ci y, one o he ele en sub-ci ies in Addis Ababa. This a ea is one o he busies a eas in
he ci y and known o hos ing A ica’s la ges open-ai ma ke , Me ka o. The neighbo hood
is well-known o i s high olume o c ime and in he op p io i y lis s asking nume ous
in e en ions o e e se he c ime a es. Because o he c ime si ua ion, o ins ance, Ke ena
09 was among he i s ew neighbo hoods in Addis Ababa selec ed o pilo he
implemen a ion o communi y policing. Acco dingly, he neighbo hoods and he a ea
esiden s a e said o be lucky o ha e he p ojec . Consequen ly, communi y esiden s and
g oups in Ke ena 09 a e ob iously in a be e posi ion o obse e he challenges exhibi ed
du ing he p og am.
One o he mechanisms o ensu e he esea ch alidi y was he ca e ul p ocedu e in
choosing in o man s o he s udy. To selec pa icipan s o in e iews, his s udy employed
pu posi e sampling o include in o man s wi h high expe ise, mee ing he minimum se ice
o wo yea s in Ke ena's communi y policing o ice and h ee yea s in he communi y-based
associa ions and ad iso y council. A e he o e due selec ion, 22 in o man s (six communi y
esiden s, se en membe s o he ad iso y g oups, and nine police o ice s) we e selec ed o
in e iew.
In e iews we e conduc ed in places and imes chosen by he s udy pa icipan s.
Special a en ion was paid o he in e iew se ing o keep he s udy pa icipan s ocused and
a en i e. The in e iew las s one hou and hi y minu es. The da a ga he ed om key
in o man in e iews we e analyzed hema ically. The in e iew was s opped a e checking
he accu acy and le el o sa u a ion a e p ese ed. Fu he mo e, he in e iew da a we e
ini ially classi ied in o he s eps o da a cleaning, checking he ele ance, ca ego izing a ious
p o e bs in he o m o na a ions, and gi ing meaning. I helps o a oid unexpec ed biases
ha migh be e o s in he selec ion o he in o man s. Finally, hemes and meanings we e
ex ac ed o ma k he in o ma ion clea ly and ema kably.
3. Resul s
This a icle assessed di e en challenges in implemen a ion o communi y policing.
The e is an ag eed consensus among he s udy pa icipan s ega ding he ele ance o
he go e nmen s uc u es a he g ass oo s le el in esol ing communi y issues o sa egua d
he a ea om c ime and causes o c ime. The s udy pa icipan s a gued ha he willingness
o he local go e nmen adminis a ion o g an o icial ecogni ion o di e en olun a y
you h associa ions ope a ing in he s udy a ea is pa amoun . Howe e , signi ican numbe s
o pa icipan s a e skep ical o he neu al and hones commi men o he local go e nmen
adminis a ion in implemen ing communi y policing p og ams. In o man s highligh ed hei
dissa is ac ion esul ing om he na u e and quali y engagemen o local go e nmen
adminis a ion o e ec i e he implemen a ion o communi y policing p og ams.
Exposing he block s uc u es in communi y policing o poli ical pu poses was
epo ed as he ones ha e adica ed he pa icipan s’ us o uphold collabo a ion wi h he
local go e nmen adminis a ion. The p essu e om go e nmen o icials inc eases du ing
elec ions. In his ega d, i was indica ed ha poli icians usually wan ed o app oach e e y
household in he neighbo hood, pa icula ly du ing na ional and egional elec ions. The
162 H. Dawi
Jou nal o Social Sciences Ma ch, 2025, Vol. 8
communi y policing s uc u e has be e access a eaching e e y esiden a he communi y
le el. This caused equen uncondi ional mo es om local go e nmen o icials o u ilize
he exis ing s uc u es o communi y policing o in luence esiden s o elec o icials se ing
he pe iod o ou yea s in he go e nmen o ice.
G ass oo s communi y dialogue sessions a e w ongly manipula ed by he local
go e nmen o icials o en o ce hei poli ical in e es s h ough imposi ion. Communi y
esiden s a e no in e es ed in a ending mee ings acili a ed by he local go e nmen
adminis a ion o known easons. Thus, he e is a endency among local poli icians o use
he shay-bunna (co ee ce emony) sessions o conduc elec ion campaigns a he
neighbo hood le el. In simple e ms, he e has been an inc easing in e es om poli icians
o use he shay-bunna discussion o ums o gua an ee he nominees om he uling pa y o
de ea elec ions a he neighbo hood le el.
Fo cing esiden s o con ibu e money o di e en de elopmen p ojec s is ano he
way discussan s c i icized. The campaign is no genuine and is o bene i he uling pa y's
poli ical eli es in he name o de elopmen . S udy pa icipan s indica ed ha local poli icians
usually appea in mee ings a Ke ena o block le els o o ce esiden s o aise money o
in as uc u e. They openly e use he opposi ion pa ies o p each o he people o o ing
using he s age in place. The p oblem, howe e , is no wi h aising money o de elopmen
bu he in en ion behind he ac is indeed poli ical. In his ega d, i was indica ed ha
esiden s in neighbo hood ha e in en ions o con ibu e money o public p ojec s, e.g., G and
Renaissance Dam. Howe e , hey ha e he pe sonali y o go e nmen ule s a he wo eda
le el a emp ing o poli icize he public ac i i ies. Fo example, poli icians usually o ce
esiden s o buy bonds o ge p omo ions in he go e nmen o ices. This, in u n, made
membe s o he uling pa y explo e and use all so s o s uc u es o gua an ee poli ical
p omo ions.
Hijacking he mee ing agendas was he o he issue in o man s ag eed wi h. Hijacking
he agenda is delibe a e, and c a ing he discussion poin s in line wi h he poli ical in e es
o he uling pa y is he ask on du y. Residen s a he g ass oo s le el lose in e es in
mee ing and discussing he public conce ns wi h he poli icians delega ing he local
adminis a ion and o ice o he pa y. Thus, di e en sec o s om he local go e nmen
adminis a ion epea edly pleaded wi h he Ke ena communi y policing coo dina o s o
a ange mee ings so ha hey could ad ance hei agenda. This, howe e , is s aining police-
communi y ela ions. Mo eo e , s udy pa icipan s epo ed ha communi y esiden s los
us in accep ing he communi y policing coo dina o s genuinely and posi i ely. The
declining numbe o esiden s a ending mee ings a anged by communi y policing o ice s
is e idence.
Communi y policing encou ages police depa men s o lis en o he conce ns and
in e es s o ci izens while deli e ing policing se ices. The pu pose o police-communi y
pa ne ship is o acili a e he ac i e engagemen o all communi y esiden s and g oups in
iden i ying and add essing sa e y and c ime- ela ed conce ns a he g ass oo s le el. S udy
pa icipan s ha e epo ed ha he exis ence o mul iple communi y policing s uc u es
whe eby ci izens a e encou aged o p o ide inpu s owa ds he imp o emen o police se ice
in he s udy a ea. Howe e , s udy pa icipan s also iden i ied se e al ins ances whe eby he
police and local go e nmen o icials a emp ed o misuse he communi y policing s uc u es
o in imida e esiden s who a e c i ical o he police and local go e nmen adminis a ion.
Challenges in Empowe ing Local Communi y: he case o Addis Ababa Police Commission 163
Jou nal o Social Sciences Ma ch, 2025, Vol. 8
Communi y esiden s who c i icize he police depa men and adminis a ion a e
pu posely neglec ed and dis ega ded o a call in he communi y dialogue sessions a any
le el. Mo eo e , hose c i ical oices a e eco ded in he blacklis by he local go e nmen
o icials and hose who u e ed he oices a e denied ge ing se ices om he local
go e nmen o ices. Communi y esiden s, pa icula ly he you h, usually pa icipa e when
in o mal ga he ings o eligious and public e en s a e o ganized o oice hei g ie ances
agains he local go e nmen o icials wi h he neighbo hood communi y. The pa icipan
indica ed ha people asking c i ical ques ions a e usually labeled as oublemake s by he
police and go e nmen o icials. The police a e no willing and do no wan hose who
publicly c i icize he police o a end any public ga he ing in ol ing communi y esiden s and
go e nmen o icials la e . In some ins ances, he police a emp ed o lobby and in imida e
pa en s and elde s in he communi y o ad ise he you h o s op c i icizing he police and
go e nmen o icials.
Besides, he poli icians o he uling pa y and he police misuse he amily police
s uc u e by in imida ing he amily membe s c i ical o he adminis a ion and he police
depa men . Police assign indi iduals om he amily o o mally communica e. The police
o en app oach he amily police ep esen a i e o lobby and some imes o wa n he amily
membe c ea ing ouble o go e nmen o icials and he police a he Ke ena o dis ic le el.
In his ega d, he pa icipan s indica ed ha he communi y always cu ious abou he amily
police s uc u e and hey u he indica ed ha al hough e e y amily has i s way o aising
and socializing wi h child en and amily membe s, police a emp o each ci izen how o
discipline child en and hey ad ise o s op coope a ing wi h o he poli ical eli es opposing
he uling pa y. They opposed he ele ance o ex ending he communi y policing s uc u e
up o he amily le el, sugges ing ha he amily issues a e p i a e, and denying he igh o
p i acy is b eaching one o he co e elemen s o human igh s. The s uc u e o amily police
is misused by he police and spying on ci izens has been i s majo du y.
Communi y policing implemen a ion in AAPC ollows he decen alized s uc u e o
each he police se ices ac oss he ci y. Se e al implemen a ion s uc u es s e ched om
amily o police commission ope a e o acili a e he engagemen o esiden s in o ums
police and communi y p epa e. S udy pa icipan s ag eed o wo k wi h he police o p omo e
he no ion ha communi y policing implemen a ions pu sue a decen alized app oach o
deli e ing police se ices. Pa icipan s said he s uc u es lack su icien powe o add ess
communi y conce ns a a ious le els. The decen aliza ion p ocess does no go beyond
building se ice cen e s a a ious le els he same as mos o he communi y policing
s uc u es a he g ass oo s le el a e no au ho ized o make any decision.
S udy pa icipan s used he ph ase ‘na ow se ice scheme’ o exp ess hei eelings
on how communi y policing is no in eg a ed and aligned wi h he se ice packages o o he
police uni s. Communi y policing uni s a e me ely ope a ional in p oac i e p oblem-sol ing,
and he eac i e one is no encou aged in he communi y policing pa adigms. I is; he e o e,
a pa adigm shi s he ci y police a e making o de e c ime be o e i damages he li e and
p ope y o law-abiding ci izens. Mos o he se ices deli e ed by he Addis Ababa Police
Commission a e p o ided o he people by o he uni s and o ice s. Those who a e p o iding
se ices di e en om he police ins i u ions a e no g adua es in police sciences and
knowledgeable in communi y policing. This, in u n, b ough up con usion and us a ion
among he public abou he en i e mission and di ec i e o he police commission.
164 H. Dawi
Jou nal o Social Sciences Ma ch, 2025, Vol. 8
Pa icipan s u he indica ed ha communi y policing cen e s a e a away o some
o he esiden s o easily access he dis ic police ge help om c iminals, you h gangs,
discou age isi o s and in o man s. On he one hand, he se ices o e ed o he a ea
communi y a e eachable in he depa men s o a ic and c ime in es iga ions. The p oblem,
as said by he in o man s, ma ches o access he communi y policing s uc u es, o cing he
esiden s o ake a axi o bus o co e dis ances. The wo s hing, howe e , is no only he
inabili y o ge se ices in he nea by communi y policing cen e s bu he en i e en i onmen
looks di e en om how se ices a e deli e ed in he Ke ena communi y policing cen e .
S udy pa icipan s epo ed se e al accoun s o un iendly and, in some cases, impoli e
app oaches while isi ing he Wo eda police s a ion o some se ices. One pa icipan
e lec ed lack o uni o mi y among he police o ice s o he simila ac i i y. Al hough
communi y police o ice s in he neighbo hood ha e been so iendly and easily accessible a
he communi y, hings will be a bi di e en a police s a ions. The police o ice s a he
police s a ion s a o mis ea people s a ing om he en ance ga e and hey use abusi e
wo ds and end o label all isi o s as oublemake s. As a esul , he dwelle s p e e no o
go o he police s a ion o seek any suppo .
Communi y policing implemen a ions in he s udy a ea a e ma ed by lawed and
inconsis en o ganiza ional s uc u es. The AAPC has made e o s o decen alize he police
se ice down o he amily le el. Howe e , he decen aliza ion p ocess has no been
subs an ia ed wi h su icien decen aliza ion o de olu ion o powe o he lowe
implemen a ion s uc u es. The inding also e ealed ha he se ice package wi hin he
amewo k o communi y policing is oo na ow o p o ide comp ehensi e police se ice.
Communi y policing is implemen ed as one ypology o police se ice, no as a philosophy
go e ning he en i e se ice p o ision o he police depa men . This can be seen om he
o ganiza ional se up in which uni s o c ime in es iga ion, oad a ic managemen and apid
esponse police a e o ganized pa allel o he communi y policing uni .
4. Discussions
This a icle p esen s h ee challenges o implemen a ion o he communi y policing.
4.1 Poli ical in usion in he implemen a ion o communi y policing
Fi s , his ound ou poli ical in usion in he implemen a ion o communi y policing.
Ac i e engagemen o law en o cemen agencies is indispensable o c ea e sa e and peace ul
neighbo hoods o a leas wo easons. Fi s , many o he issues causing c ime and insecu i y
a he g ass oo s le el ha e social and economic oo s de ac ing he a en ion o local
go e nmen adminis a ion. Second, police depa men s a all le els a e challenged by he
sca ci y o esou ces and budge s o mobilize he police o ice s and he communi y all he
ime o comba c ime and o he sa e y- ela ed conce ns. Hence, he engagemen o he local
go e nmen adminis a ion in ensu ing a sa e and li able neighbo hood emained deba able.
The poli ical enc oachmen s laid down by he local go e nmen adminis a ion. Hence, hey
ag eed o de ise in o mal s a egies o coun e a ack he poli ical manipula ions among
inhabi an s. These s a egies ein o ce he Ke ena communi y policing coo dina o s o
communica e he agendas be o e e e y mee ing a he Ke ena o block le el. A oiding he
mee ing a anged o he poli ical gain is he o he s a egy in o man s ag eed o sa egua d
he ue na u e o communi y policing. Ne e heless, i seems imp ac ical o con ol poli ical
in e e ence h ough hese s a egies, gi en ha hose in he uppe s uc u e a e poli icians
a ilia ed wi h he hen- uling pa y. The communi y is de o ed o eeing he implemen a ion
Challenges in Empowe ing Local Communi y: he case o Addis Ababa Police Commission 165
Jou nal o Social Sciences Ma ch, 2025, Vol. 8
by empowe ing he communi y o en oll in he decision-making p ocess ac i ely and
decisi ely. In line wi h hese indings, empi ical li e a u e sugges s poli ical in e e ence o
manipula ion has long been he majo h ea impeding he success ul implemen a ion o
communi y policing.
Gaines [16] no ed ha communi y policing usually se es he in e es s o he powe ul
since he police leade s a e unde cons an p essu e om he poli ical eli e o ailo s a egies
o he mains eam o hegemonic ideology. Iku eyijo [17] has u he a gued ha he poli ical
eli e in Nige ia use police o ice s and communi y policing s uc u es o ad ance
inapp op ia e poli ical ad an age. Debela e al. [18] epo ed ha he poli ical pa iali y o
he police is among he ac o s in e ing he success ul execu ion o communi y policing in
E hiopia. Howe e , Denny and Kassaye [19] and Di Nunzio [20] p o ided he mos
comp ehensi e and c i ical analysis o he nexus be ween poli ics and communi y policing in
E hiopia. Communi y policing implemen a ion in E hiopia has been de eloped and amed
wi hin a pa icula poli ical con ex . Communi y policing implemen a ions ha e been
po ayed as an ex ension o he o e all desi e o he go e nmen o ensu e poli ical
hegemony and con ol [19]. Communi y policing implemen a ion in E hiopia was amed by
he uling pa y aimed a poli ical con o mi y among he you h [20]. The police communi y
ela ions a e decisi e o buildup us be ween police and he communi y [21]. Police p ac ice
is highly sabo aged by he uling pa y o hones ly se e he poli ical ideology s ipula ed in
hei mani es o [22].
4.2 Police P o iling and Sabo aging he C i ical Voices
Second, his a icle iden i ied police p o iling and concealing he c i ical oices. The
endency o ma ginalize c i ical oices is lis ed as he ac o s jeopa dizing he communi y
policing implemen a ion in he s udy a ea in a leas wo ways. Fi s , communi y esiden s
a e educing hei engagemen and collabo a ion wi h he local police depa men since he
police and local go e nmen o icials a e only in e es ed in lis ening o posi i e ema ks
abou hei espec i e o ganiza ions. Second, he police and local go e nmen adminis a ion
a e among he majo s akeholde s in sol ing c ime and sa e y- ela ed conce ns a he
g ass oo s le el. A oiding c i ical oices means he police and local go e nmen
adminis a ion a e no in e es ed in imp o ing he se ice p o ision and sol ing communi y
p oblems.
Findings o his s udy suppo he asse ions Onyeozili [23] indica ed ha he police
depa men and local au ho i ies a e misusing he communi y policing s uc u es o silence
and p osecu e c i ical oices, which se e ely damages he epu a ion o he p og am and he
police depa men in gene al. Mo e speci ically, Di Nunzio [20] epo ed ha communi y
policing s uc u es in Addis Ababa ha e been e icien ly in eg a ed wi h he poli ical
s uc u es o supp ess an i-go e nmen sen imen s o mo emen s in majo me opoli an
ci ies such as Addis Ababa. Beyond poli ical enc oachmen s, undemoc a ic app oaches om
he police depa men and iola ion o human and democ a ic igh s pull ou he esiden s
discou aging he esiden s o meaning ully pa icipa e in communi y policing
implemen a ion p og ams in E hiopia [24].
4.3 Powe Cen aliza ion and Decen aliza ion
Thi d, his s udy assessed powe cen aliza ion and he ques ion o decen aliza ion.
Communi y policing in AAPC is o ganized unde a special uni (communi y policing
di ec o a e). Thus, he esponsibili y o unde ake asks ela ed o communi y policing such
