An overview of policing in the year 1990 is based on a 1987 Canadian victimization survey; figures on police force personnel, police-population ratio and workload, and costs are provided. The environment of policing in another 20 years will be influenced by demographic and sociological trends including aging, immigration and ethnicity, a transformed family structure, technological advances, the economy, and relevant political issues. Canada has experienced a reemergence of community policing, in which progressive police services have begun to reorient themselves organizationally and operationally. The focus of policing is on effectiveness rather than efficiency, on providing public peace and safety rather than just strict law enforcement, and on building a partnership with the community rather than operating as an autonomous policing enterprise. Community policing is based on a partnership of three sets of strategic components, namely the police, the public service sector, and the criminal justice system. Internal and external strategic resources include human resources, training, financial resources, technology, research, and communications. Effective change must be implemented through leadership and careful planning, devoted to the pursuit of excellence in policing. A statement of mission -- which outlines policing objectives, means for achieving those objectives, and the core values to guide police professionals in reaching those objectives -- can foster the development of standards of excellence that will further the effectiveness of Canadian policing.