What is a consequence of a lack of community engagement by police?

• A. Increased collaboration with community leaders
• B. Stronger relationships with residents
• C. Potential for mistrust and conflict with the community
• D. Higher compliance with police requests

Answer: (C)

When police don’t actively engage with the community, trust in law enforcement erodes. People start to question whether the police are fair or have their best interests in mind, and they may feel ignored or even targeted. This lack of trust makes residents less willing to cooperate, share information, or follow directions, and it can fuel misunderstandings or hostility. Without open dialogue and accountability, tensions rise and conflicts become more likely.

So the most accurate outcome of a lack of engagement is mistrust and conflict. The other possibilities describe benefits that come from strong engagement—more collaboration, closer relationships, and higher voluntary compliance—not from avoiding interaction.