The research took place over a 6-month period, during which police presence was substantially increased in one high-income and one low-income residential neighborhood through the assignment of two officers to each zone for a total of 8 hours a day. Interviews with both police and residents gathered data on police-citizen interactions. Results showed that police behavior was more assertive and active in the low-income neighborhood. Factors associated with the level of police intervention included the officers' perception of the seriousness of the situation, where the situation occurred, and whether or not a crime had been committed. However, variables defining the characteristics of community members such as leader, resident, offender, or victim did not influence the level of police intervention. Tables, footnotes, and 8 references. (Author abstract modified)