The key issue is whether police service consolidation and the philosophy of community policing are compatible. Several subissues are also addressed: effect of police service consolidation on citizen expectations of community policing; services and/or tasks that are chosen for consolidation; and consolidation opportunities created by community policing. Trends and events relevant to the key issue and subissues are examined, and strategic and transition management plans are devised to facilitate police service consolidation in the context of community policing. The author concludes that whether the impact of police service consolidation on community policing is positive or negative depends primarily on preplanning and services chosen for consolidation. The consolidation of some support services, such as records, dispatch, evidence processing and storage, and investigations, can be accomplished without adversely impacting community policing. Community input and adequate consideration of financial issues are essential to effective police service consolidation. Supplemental information on the futures study is appended. References, endnotes, tables, and figures