Community policing involves reforming decision making processes and creating new cultures within police agencies. Its four main principles are decentralization, problem-oriented policing, responsiveness to the community, and partnerships between police and community organizations and programs. Chicago's experiment with community policing began in April 1993. Its six main elements are departmental involvement, permanent beat assignments, training, community involvement, social service, and crime analysis. The pilot districts broadly represented the city's neighborhoods. Residents of the pilot districts reported that they saw less social disorder and physical decay and that serious crime declines in several areas. Residents, especially black residents, also reported that they were receiving better police service. The months spent developing and testing the program appeared to have produced positive results. Figures and 2 references