THE DIVISION OF TIME BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COMMUNITY SERVICE REDUCES THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE POLICE AS A DETERRENT TO CRIME AND ERODES PUBLIC CONFIDENCE, SINCE IT FORCES THE POLICE TO PERFORM TASKS FOR WHICH THEY ARE NOT TRAINED. THIS ARTICLE DESCRIBES THE NATURE OF THE SERVICES DEMANDED BY THE PUBLIC. THESE INCLUDE SOLVING DOMESTIC PROBLEMS, ANSWERING CALLS FOR ASSISTANCE OR INFORMATION, AND MAINTAINING ORDER. ON-THE-JOB TRAINING DOES NOT EQUIP THE POLICE OFFICER WITH THE INTERPERSONAL SKILLS NEEDED TO HANDLE MANY OF THESE COMMUNITY PROBLEMS. THE RESULTING ROLE CONFLICT DOES DAMAGE TO THE POLICE OFFICER'S SELF-IMAGE, LEADING TO FRUSTRATION AND JOB DISSATISFACTION. RECOMMENDED SOLUTIONS INCLUDE REDUCTION OF NON-LAW-ENFORCEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES; REORGANIZATION OF POLICE AGENCIES, WITH NEW AGENCIES TO HANDLE COMMUNITY SERVICE AND EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC TO MORE REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS CONCERNING POLICE SERVICES. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (RFC)