THE OPP HAS RESPONSIBILITY EXTENDING OVER 387,874 SQUARE MILES. HISTORICALLY, THE PERSONNEL HAVE BEEN ENCOURAGED TO RESIDE IN THE COMMUNITY THEY SERVE TO ENHANCE COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING. PATTERNS OF URBANIZATION AND CHANGING SOCIAL PATTERNS HAVE, HOWEVER, NECESSITATED THE DEVELOPMENT OF ORGANIZED CHANNELS OF POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS. THE OPP HAS PURSUED A POLICY OF MEANINGFUL CONTACT WITH THE MEDIA AND THE PUBLIC. THROUGH SIMULTANEOUS BROADCAST POLICE DETACHMENTS THROUGHOUT THE PROVINCE CHANNEL INFORMATION TO THE MEDIA. STAFF MEMBERS ARE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER PUBLIC INQUIRIES, AND DISTRICT UNIFORMED COMMUNITY SERVICES COORDINATORS ACT AS LIAISON BETWEEN THE POLICE, THE PUBLIC, AND THE MEDIA. THE COMMUNITY SERVICES BRANCH PROVIDES RESOURCE PERSONNEL AND MATERIALS WHICH EMPHASIZE SAFETY, CRIME PREVENTION, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF STRONG POLICE-COMMUNITY TIES. EACH YEAR, EACH CLASSROOM IS VISITED BY A UNIFORMED OFFICER. THE OPP CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAM PROVIDES RESOURCE MATERIALS, ASSISTANCE, AND SECURITY ADVICE TO CITIZENS. A COMPLAINTS BUREAU HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED TO LISTEN SYMPATHETICALLY TO CITIZEN COMPLAINTS AND TAKE PROMPT REMEDIAL ACTION. AN AWARD PROGRAM FOR MERITORIOUS CITIZEN ASSISTANCE TO THE POLICE HAS ALSO BEEN INSTITUTED. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT POLICE DEPARTMENTS MUST EMPLOY ALL MEANS AVAILABLE TO FURTHER RECEPTIVE PUBLIC ATTITUDES AND TO CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE OF MUTUAL COOPERATION, ACCEPTANCE, AND UNDERSTANDING. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT IF EVERY OFFICER'S CONTACT WITH THE COMMUNITY IS BASED ON GOOD WILL, THE TASK OF CREATING THIS ATMOSPHERE WILL BECOME MUCH EASIER. (JAP)