AJ 53 –
Police Field Operations
Chapter 5 –
Basic Patrol Procedures
Patrol Basics
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Duties and Responsibilities
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Purpose
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Moving around within a designated area
Active observation
Interactive participation with citizenry
Visible presence to all
Symbol of safety and security to law abiders
Reminder to potential law breakers
All types of patrol should result in daily,
face-to-face contact with citizens
Link to Homeland Security?
Patrol Activities
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Administrative Activities
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Officer-Initiated Activities
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Proactive efforts based on traffic/pedestrian stops,
PR contacts, etc.
Assigned Calls-For-Service
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Community & department meetings, equipment
maintenance
Calls received by Dispatch
Follow-Up/Directed Patrol
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Specific to ongoing investigations
Vehicle Patrol
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Most common mode of patrol transportation
Patrol car becomes officer’s mobile “office”
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Types of vehicles used for various purposes/situations
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Communications & Equipment
General patrol duties
Pursuits
Marked vs. Unmarked vehicles
Off-road
Disadvantages?
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Easily recognizable
Barrier to interaction with citizens
Costs
Types of Patrol
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Foot Patrol
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Bicycles
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Maximize contact with people in malls, parks,
beaches, trouble spots…
Allows for increased personal interaction
Less mobile – slower response time
Mobile, unobtrusive, access to equipment
Motorcycles
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Primarily for traffic enforcement
Types of Patrol (continued)
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Horses/Mounted Patrol
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Small Vehicles
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Electric vehicles, ATV’s/quads, Segways…
Airplanes and Helicopters
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Parades, crowd control, search and rescue
Welcoming and intimidating
Traffic, search and rescue, narcotics, etc.
Boats and Jet-Skis
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Waterways, holiday crowds, search and
rescue/recovery
General Preparation for Patrol
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Keep a Positive Attitude
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Be Curious and Suspicious
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Situational awareness
Observational perception
Wonder why people do what they do
Become a Student of Human Nature
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Must be developed and maintained despite overwhelming
negative encounters: Not all people are bad!
Maintain positive off-duty relationships
Learn as much as possible about people and social interactions
Develop a broad base of multi-cultural experiences
Be Professional, Courteous, Empathetic, and
Compassionate to All!
Pre-Patrol Preparation
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Knowledge and Information
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Local, state, national current events
Legal updates, case-law decisions, etc.
In-service training classes
Beat Familiarity = Beat Integrity!
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Demographics, business, residential, rural
Streets/numbering system, routes
Floor-plans of likely calls for service
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Liquor stores, banks, schools, apartment complexes
Pre-Patrol Preparation (cont’d)
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Briefing
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Reports
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Beat assignments, recent activities
Read crime/incident reports from your beat
Vehicle Inspection
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Careful and thorough!
Gas, damage, lights/siren, equipment, etc.
Beginning of Patrol
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Check-in
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Talk to officer going off-duty who has
been working your beat
Check Your Beat
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Cursory check of area
Random, varied pattern
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Don’t establish permanent routine!
Keep log of times & activities
Homeland Security issues/locations
Foot Patrol Considerations
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Recent trend of returning to foot patrols
Increases face-to-face encounters
Builds and maintains Trust & Respect
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Get to know people while on foot
Be cautious of unethical gratuities
Good opportunity for PR contacts
Actively observe surroundings/goings-on
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You are still “on patrol”
Vehicle Patrol Considerations
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Consider vehicle as mode of transportation
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In general, patrol at normal flow of traffic
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Slow enough to observe surroundings without impeding
other drivers
Windows open, radios low
Patrol Patterns (p. 168)
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Don’t “hide” inside patrol car
Get out and walk around
Spiral, zigzag, quadrant, cloverleaf
Driving Factors
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Vehicle, traffic, weather, fatigue, pursuits
EVOC training
Plainclothes Patrol
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Unmarked vehicles
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Advantages
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In uniform or plain clothes
Stealth and anonymity
Observation and approach to illegal activity
Immersion in crowds, special events
Challenges
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Identification
Communications
Weapons
Contact with uniformed officers
Building Checks
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In vehicle or on foot
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Check vehicles/persons in area or parking lot
Loud vs. quiet approach
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Need to physically “shake some doors”
Note floor plans for future reference
Communication with Dispatch, other officers
Check for signs of forced entry
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Broken locks, pry marks, tools, etc.
Building Checks (continued)
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Open Door
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Someone inside?
Enter alone or wait for partner?
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Weapon drawn?
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Vision adjustment
Flashlight vs. light switch
Checking interior
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Employee? Janitor? Burglar?
Lighting issues
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Consider K-9 if available
Listen!
Doors may be open, locked, etc.
Expect someone to be there!
Make contact with Responsible Party
Crime-Prevention Checks
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Excellent PR tool!
Residential
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Vacation checks
After theft, burglary, etc.
Commercial & Institutional
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Good use of foot-patrol time
Offer advice to business owners
Check business licenses
Attractive Nuisances
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Be aware of potentially hazardous or
troublesome locations…
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Vacant/Abandoned buildings
Teen “party houses”
Parks or playgrounds at night
Drug use/sales
Liquor stores, bars, etc.
Gangs and Gang Activities
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Not just a “big city” problem
Pre-teens to young adults
Typical activities/crimes
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Tagging, graffiti, vandalism
Theft, Robbery, Burglary
Alcohol use, Drug use/sales
Fights & Weapons
Patrol Officer’s responsibilities?
Surveillance
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Surveillance = observing a place,
person, or object for the purpose of…
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Identification
Developing information
Determining relationships
Gathering evidence
Loose vs. Fixed surveillance
Surveillance Considerations
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Gather as much intelligence as possible
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Discreet communications
Combine various methods
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Before and during operation
Foot, vehicle, individuals, and teams
Develop a plan for contingencies
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Expect the unexpected!
Stakeouts
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Fixed surveillance for suspect, crime
Planning and preparations
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Notifications and cooperation
Location and equipment
Food, water, bathroom
Communications
Relief of personnel
Plan for contingencies
Specialized Enforcement
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SWAT, Gangs, Narcotics, Vice, etc.
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Special training/equipment required
Somewhat autonomous but still within
Department policies & procedures
Requires communication/coordination
with uniformed patrol
Undercover Assignments
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Requires careful planning/preparation
May require memorization of new
identity/personal history
Challenges of isolation and separation
May have to build relationships with
less-than-desirable people
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Impact on family?