A recent report by The New York Times highlights an 84 percent rise in homicides in Chicago this year. Just in the first quarter of this year, the city has already seen 605 shootings and 131 deaths. For a city with a history of violence, these figures don't augur well for the future.

But what is even more disturbing is the fact that this surge in crime coincides with the police department undergoing heavy scrutiny for its actions in the past. There is a dilemma here, and it's a big one — the department has a mission to reduce bloodshed, and it must to do so with the cooperation of citizens.

How will that be possible when there is such a huge public outcry over police conduct and discipline, as well as a growing distrust of officers?

The Justice Department's investigation into the police shooting of teenager Laquan McDonald and Chicago's overall policing practices is already weighing heavily on city officials. The recent surge in violence — when the city is at a pivotal moment for its law enforcement policy improvement — may make matters worse.

The key focus now is on improving police-community relations, in rebuilding trust. But so far that is proving difficult. Recently, experts convened in the city to discuss what the future of policing might be, what kind of reforms to undertake, and how emerging technologies can help to expand the crime-fighting strategy.

Many experts, like New York University law professor Barry Friedman, have pointed out a lack of public involvement in police rule-making and a "democratic vacuum" in American policing that needs to be overcome. It is imperative that these be addressed in order to achieve a democratic and meaningful policing reform.

This is not an isolated development for Chicago. Other cities are also grappling with similar issues and, in varying degrees, on rebuilding police-community relations. A large portion of these cities are following the directions of the Task Force on 21st Century Policing, appointed by President Barack Obama to combat the increasingly violent clashes between police and civilians.

Departments across America are focused on reforming policing practices and meeting the challenges involved to combat rising crime rates. Another city facing a similar crisis is Ferguson, Missouri, after their infamous incident involving the death of Michael Brown. While the Justice Department has found major flaws in police policies during their inquiries, some experts have pointed out that simply going by their conclusions might be misleading for the future.

Since police procedure has a deep impact on the populace, it is only right that the public has a stronger say in future policing policies. While there are obviously many detractors for this theory, in the long run this well could be the best solution — beneficial for both the police and the public.

Institutions like the American Law Institute (ALI) are conducting in-depth research on longstanding policing practices. They are also focusing on how police-public cooperation and technological advancements in society can lead to effective and better, community-oriented policing that is needed for the future.

It is, therefore, no wonder community engagement programs are fast becoming an important item on the department agendas across the country. While many have hinted at the lack of feasibility and the challenges of these programs, some have taken the baby steps at adopting them. This will pave the path for democratic accountability, prevent unnecessary clashes and also help organize coherent public input.

Another important factor here is that simply being aware of constitutional law and citizens' rights is not enough. There seems to be a huge gap between theoretical procedures and practices, especially in the light of growing violence and distrust for the police.

If it is about going by the books, then data will show most officers have been doing right by them. But good police procedure is obviously about going beyond the book and about understanding the people they serve.

Therefore, training programs for police must lean heavily on community engagement and interpersonal interactions, beyond the set rules. It is also about understanding and adapting to changing cultures and lifestyles, much of which now involve technological and social media developments.

Without these changes, it may be difficult to create and maintain legitimacy in the community for future policing efforts.