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Means, Motive, and Opportunity: Politics, Community Needs, and Community Oriented Policing Services Grants

Claremont Graduate University

Charles C. Turner

California State University, Chico

Craig Volden

Claremont Graduate University

Both local and national political considerations may play a role in determining the distribution ofintergovernmental grant funds. This article focuses on the Community Oriented Policing Servicesprogram from 1993 to 1997 to examine how local politicians weigh their electoral desiresagainst community needs in their decisions to apply for grants and how national politicians andbureaucrats similarly determine their responses to cities' requests. Due to electoral pressures,mayors were more likely than city managers to seek the short-term grants. National party politicsalso seemed to affect the allocation of grant funds. Finally, community needs played a role, as citieswith high crime rates, police-funding shortages, and the ability to support the new officersafter the grants expired were more likely to request grants. Communities with larger minoritypopulations were less likely to request grants and were given fewer funds.

Key Words: fiscal federalism • intergovernmental grants • community-oriented policing • decision making in public administration

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