To respond to demographic changes, the San Diego Police Department implemented a community-based policing program seeking to make the force more responsive and accountable to citizens. This shift in philosophy demanded changes in virtually every element of policing. The departmental structure, hiring practices, training programs, community-outreach efforts, and mechanisms of accountability were all changed. Problem Oriented Policing (POP) seeks to change the way police officers think about crime and disorder. It encourages them not only to respond to crime but also to prevent it by solving the underlying problems that create it. Officers are trained to identify and address problems using scanning, analysis, response, and assessment. Neighborhood policing is only successful with a force that reflects the racial and cultural composition of the communities it serves. Several programs and structures that enable citizens to assume some responsibility for keeping their neighborhoods safe were put into place, including advisory boards, storefront facilities, community service officers, volunteers, and the Neighborhood Watch program. The department implemented a comprehensive system of external and internal accountability to minimize incidents of misconduct and to assure citizens that their complaints were taken seriously. Citizens are able to lodge a complaint without fear of repercussion. Two units, the Internal Affairs Section and the Professional Standards Unit, investigate wrongdoing by police officers. A Citizen’s Review Board was established to oversee the investigation of complaints against police officers. The department goes to great lengths to ensure that force is only used when necessary. Supervisors are guided by several objectives in setting and enforcing standards of performance and conduct, including making sure officers understand what is expected of them and informing officers when their performance or behavior is cause for concern. 5 footnotes, 3 references