The determining factor in the success or failure in the implementation of problem-oriented policing initiatives is police desire. Desire is driven by individual or organizational self-interest. When reviewing problem-oriented policing initiatives, both successful and unsuccessful, the overriding sense one gets is that when police really want something accomplished, it usually gets accomplished. Five clusters or general types of factors identified that help explain implementation success or failure include: (1) characteristics, skills, and actions of project managers; (2) resources; (3) external support and cooperation; (4) evidence and (5) complexity of implementation. Research studies have lacked in the area of failure in the crime or disorder reduction initiative. However, utilizing the basic framework of a problem-solving model, reasons are provided as to why any particular problem reduction initiative might fail (or succeed). The chapter concerns itself with the following: (1) responses developed from the problem analysis that were improperly or insufficiently implemented, or not implemented at all; and (2) the problem was properly identified and analyzed, and response were implemented, but the responses did not have the desired effect on the problem. References