Events that can result in demonstrations or other confrontations include actions by government, human rights issues, and environmental issues. Characteristics of conflicts that lead to police involvement include a banding together of people, highly charged emotions, hidden or multiple agendas, demands, confrontations with police or others who have no power to satisfy demands, a strong need to take action, conflicting action plans and desires, anger, and distrust of the system. The University of Colorado police department regards the community policing concept as probably the most important method of dealing with community issues. The police try to avoid setting off violence by listening to the people involved, setting ground rules, discussing the rules with demonstrators, and making sure that all police officers understand the police agenda. Using these approaches, the campus police have handled several major demonstrations, including the protests of the recruiting by the Central Intelligence Agency. Two effective methods of control have been the videotaping of every demonstration, arrest, and confrontation and the use of civilian observers who function as neutral observers at demonstrations. In addition, the establishment of strong communications links between the police and others involved in a confrontation can help conflicts from escalating. Notes