AFTER THE TECHNOLOGICAL REVOLUTION OF POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN THE 1950'S WHICH RESULTED IN REMOVAL OF THE POLICE OFFICER FROM INTIMATE CONTACT WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD, SPECIAL EFFORTS ARE NOW BEING MADE TO REESTABLISH GOOD POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS. SPECIAL COMMUNITY RELATIONS DIVISIONS VARY IN EFFECTIVENESS. THE BEST APPROACHES COMBINE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS WITH A TOTAL DEPARTMENTAL AWARENESS OF COMMUNITY NEEDS. TOTAL ORIENTATION INVOLVES RECRUITING OFFICERS FROM MINORITY GROUPS AND WOMEN, EMPHASIZING RESPECT FOR ALL GROUPS, AND HANDLING CITIZEN COMPLAINTS QUICKLY AND FAIRLY. SPECIAL COMMUNITY PROGRAMS INCLUDE SCHOOL PRESENTATIONS, OFTEN EMPHASIZING A PARTICULAR PROBLEM SUCH AS TRAFFIC SAFETY, AND COMMUNITYWIDE CRIME-PREVENTION COURSES. CITIZENS ARE BROUGHT INTO THE DEPARTMENT. SCHOOL PROJECTS USE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO HELP WITH CLERICAL WORK OR PREPARE MATERIALS FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRESENTATIONS. SOMETIMES CITIZENS RIDE IN PATROL CARS OR SERVE AS POLICE AIDS TO GAIN AN UNDERSTANDING OF LAW ENFORCEMENT PROBLEMS. CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEES HAVE PROVED VALUABLE IN ETHNIC OR RACIAL MINORITY NEIGHBORHOODS. TEAMS PATROLLING OR ASSIGNING ONE OFFICER TO A BEAT FOR A SUFFICIENT PERIOD OF TIME TO DEVELOP RAPPORT ARE VALUABLE TACTICS. IN CHICAGO, 'BEST REPS' OFTEN ACT AS INTERPRETERS FOR NON-ENGLISH-SPEAKING RESIDENTS. GOOD RELATIONS WITH THE MEDIA ARE ALSO ESSENTIAL. A TOTAL ORIENTATION IS BEING ADOPTED BY MORE AND MORE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN THEIR POLICE-COMMUNITY PROGRAMS.