Overall, studies suggest that the attitudes of the general public toward the police are good, but that dissatisfaction with police is expressed by a small minority characterized by frequent encounters with police. Further, public satisfaction with police was related to programs and encounters that reinforced public perceptions of the police officer as a concerned public servant who, above all else, has good communication and problemsolving skills. These public perceptions of the police role require a new model of the police officer that is in line with these changing social values. Thus, the model police officer is more a community organizer and effective manager than an authoritarian enforcer. This changing role will require a change in emphasis in police training in which more prominence is given to improving interpersonal sensitivity, communication skills, and problem solving. 72 references.