Civilian oversight as a public good: democratic policing, civilian oversight, and the social

In recent years, a number of community groups have mounted public campaigns for civilian oversight of police complaint processes, as ?police investigating police? is seen as failing to adhere to a principle of democratic policing: police are accountable to civilian authority. Drawing on notions of policing as a public good, I argue that civilian oversight is a source of physical and ontological security. In developing this perspective, I offer an explanation as to why policing scholars and persons affiliated with community groups might advocate for the use of civilian oversight, and consider a model by which to enhance perceptions of public security.