AN EFFECTIVE POLICE EDUCATION PROGRAM CAN RESULT IN IMPROVED CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY LIVING, IMPROVED CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT IN POLICE WORK, AND AN ENHANCED POLICE IMAGE. IT IS IMPORTANT, HOWEVER, THAT THE PRESENTATION OF PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS MATCH BOTH THE MATERIAL THAT IS PRESENTED AND THE TARGET AUDIENCE. FORMAL PROGRAMS ARE BETTER PLANNED AND EXECUTED, BUT LESS LIKELY TO CONVERT PEOPLE THAN INFORMAL PRESENTATIONS. POLICE OFFICERS ON THE BEAT, FOR EXAMPLE, CAN EDUCATE BOTH THE DEPARTMENT AND THE CITIZEN IN A MANNER NO ONE ELSE CAN. SOME POSSIBLE PROGRAM SUBJECTS ARE POLICE POLICY AND PROCEDURE, COMPLAINT PROCESSING, RAPE, PREVENTION, CHILD MOLESTATION, DRUGS, DRIVING SAFETY, PERSONAL DEFENSE, AND PHYSICAL SECURITY. INSTRUCTORS NEED TO BE WELL TRAINED AND KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE SUBJECT PRESENTED. THE USE OF A TEAM OR A SPECIALIZED SPEAKER CAN ENHANCE THE PRESENTATION. CARE SHOULD BE USED IN SUBJECT PREPARATION AND CHOICE OF MATERIAL AS WELL. IN SUMMARY, POLICE DEPARTMENTS ARE IMPROVED BY GOOD PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS, BECAUSE THEY MAKE THE OFFICER'S JOB EASIER, AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF COMMUNITY LIVING. FOOTNOTES AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE PROVIDED. (AOP)