Lt. Steven Williams, the CPD's communitypolicing coordinator, says he doesn't predict areconciliation between the CPD and its patrolofficers union anytime soon over this issue.

"I don't foresee that changing," he says. "WhatI do see is officers themselves, if they recognizethe importance and benefits of buying intooutreach, they will [ask to be placed in] certaingeographical areas of their own."

Some officers seem to agree.

A 31-year veteran CPD officer says he thinksthat neighborhood assignments would aid his job.

Although officers get to "bid" on neighborhoodsthey want, they can switch at any time.

The officer, who spoke on the condition ofanonymity, said that he has selected a certainneighborhood because he wants to get to know theresidents.

"Do I think [geographical assigning] wouldbenefit community policing? Yes I do. I think mostofficers feel that way," he says.

Steven Hall, who is president of the CambridgePatrol Officers Union, could not be reached forcomment.

CPD commissioner Watson says tension with theunion is responsible for media reports of lowmorale with in the department.

"Most of our problems come from laboragreements," he says. "They were drawn before thedepartment got into community policing."

"That has an impact," he says.

Close Contact

Still, Watson says he's doing his best to bringthe CPD closer to Cantabrigians.

To that end, four times a year, the CPD hostsmeetings in each zone.

But many residents are ignoring issues of crimeat these meetings, focusing instead on "quality oflife issues," according to Williams.