The Line Office Function
CJUS 104
Part 2: Law Enforcement and
Patrol Procedures
1.
Public and private police
A. Public police: federal, state, local
- government employees
- paid with taxes / work for us
B. Private police: twice as many
- security guards to private investigators
- arrest powers = private citizen
- mobile patrol/foot patrol/stationary
- numbers growing = fear of crime
- primary part of justice system
- state requirements
- training requirements
c. Major difference
- public officers = obligated
- police have a responsibility
(1) Work closely with private police
- give respect they deserve
- necessary functions
- life on line / pose a threat
2. Patrol function
A. Numerous duties
- prepare physically/mentally
- preparation on-going
- physical = running /upper body
- mental = education /training /more
(1) Mental preparation = ½ hour prior
- each shift = mind-set of officer
- safety /security /training /precaution
- know what to do in certain situations
(2) Continues throughout shift
- thinking of response types
- approach/cover/concealment
(3) Leaving family environment
- perspective /thinking /attitude
- change = special family moments
- argument with spouse
B. Police personality
- concentrate solely on the job
- nothing interferes with mind-set
- most dangerous /stressful professions
- people trying to hurt /kill you
(1) Mental preparation
- requires a time to unwind
- after shift = time to relax
- faced stress /anger / heartache
- leave at work = don’t take job home
3. Preparing for patrol
- familiar with three primary components
- policies /laws /basic patrol procedures
A. Department policies
- each agency = own policies
- administrator /government /public opinion
-
similar regulations /policies
department policy manual
govern actions /functions
dress /hair /use of force / reports /meals
read and sign
B. The law
- know your legal rights
- what is criminal (federal /state /local)
- reasonable suspicion vs. probable cause
- how far you go = making arrest
- legalities of search and seizure
C. Basic patrol procedures
- foundation = highly professional officer
4. Basic patrol procedures
- techniques /skills /special ways
A. Difference between:
- stopping vehicle = knowing how to stop
- arresting someone = safely making arrest
- cover = concealment
(1) Proper = officer safety /survival
- safety increases = how often used
(2) Learn in classroom
- only a base from which to build
- street experience cannot be taught
- experience = best teacher
- involved /observing others = survival
(3) Studies have shown:
- few officers injured /killed
- right way
(a) Learn correct techniques
- integrate with the law
- similar methods /policies follow
B. Elements of patrol procedures
(1) Prevention
- conditions that breed crime
- direct energies /resources to prevent
(a) Community-based policing
- involve public
- know your there to assist
(2) Detection
- pro-active /aggressive
- observation / info received
(3) Enforcement
- law = basis for police authority
- properly enforced = deterrent
C. Techniques learned
- apply to all officers
- department size /jurisdiction / crime
(1) Techniques work = be flexible
- applying to each specific incident
(2) Stop cars /respond to calls /back up /
confront suspicious persons
(a) Worst attitude you can have
- just a routine call
- nothing ever happens
- will never happen to me
D. Information /techniques learned
- many years of experience
- thousands of officers
(1) Numerous books /studies /schools
- personal perspectives
(2) Constant state of change
5. The Patrol Division
- backbone of state /county /city agency
A. Patrol concept
- traveling around a defined jurisdiction
- observe /safety of persons /property
- universal concept
(1) First on the scene
- expected to take control
- law /procedure /conflict management
(2) Closest contact with public
(3) High profile = uniform /vehicle
- direct service
- real and perceived needs
(4) Initial investigator
- primary service
- all others = support for patrol
- can be cut back / eliminated
- best illustrated by small agency
6. Five primary objectives of patrol
A. Fundamental objective
- protection and service
(1) Police are public servants
- protection of life /property
(2) Have other duties /responsibilities
B. Second objective
- crime prevention
(1) Crime = risk to great
- opportunity does not exist
(2) Preventive /aggressive patrol
- observing enforcement action
- highly visible
- checking suspicious persons /vehicles
- security check of “hot spots”
C. Third objective
- regulating public conduct
- traffic enforcement to criminal activity
- taking action when necessary
D. Fourth objective
- preservation of the peace
(1) May involve dispute calls
- domestic and neighborhood problems
- bar or street fights /loud parties
- landlord-tenant issues /barking dogs
E. Final objective
- arrest
- positive option
- aware /appreciative /help suspect
7. Three general types of service calls
- emergency /routine /courtesy
A. Emergency = most demanding
- in progress crimes /injury accidents
(1) Most often, first on scene
- uniform /authority = logical leader
- split second decisions
- must take control
B. Routine = majority of police work
C. Courtesy = public relations
- assist motorist /lockouts /house watch
8. Methods and types of patrol
A. Vehicle patrol most widely used
(1) Advantages
- efficiency = speed /mobility
- visibility as crime deterrent
- availability of equipment
- transportation = persons /property
(2) Disadvantages
- lack of contact with public
- inability to “blend in”
(3) Type of vehicle
- Chevrolet / Ford = police package
- does vary (4-wheel drive, etc.)
- equipment varies = shotgun /rifle /
radio /computer
- color /markings = no black and white
B. Foot patrol
(1) Condensed populations /high crime
areas / special events
(a) Advantages
- increased personal contact
- deterrent effect
- plainclothes = blend in
- observation ability
- increase in information
(b) Disadvantages
- mobility /fast response
- outnumbered
- not cost effective
C. Motorcycle patrol
- 2 wheel: speed /ability for crowd control
- 3 wheel: parking /traffic related work
D. Miscellaneous patrol
- motor scooter /bicycle /ATV / dirt bike
- limited only by resource /imagination
(1) Motor scooters = sport events /parade
(2) Bicycle
- business district /sport events
- faster than foot / silent
(3) ATV (4-wheel drive)
- rugged terrain /flood areas
(4) Dirt bike
- logging roads /trails
- deter trespassers on dirt bikes
E. K-9 patrol
- primarily: tracking /searching /drug sniff
- assigned to patrol officer
- usually available to assist other agencies
F. Unmarked /plain clothes patrol
- need for less visibility
- problems = pursuits /transporting persons
G. Other specialized patrol
(1) Harbor patrol
- responsible for waterways in city/co
- only rescues /patrol for crimes
(2) Air patrol
- helicopters to support patrol units
- detection of /observation of crimes
- airplanes = traffic enforcement
(3) Horse patrol
- inaccessible areas to vehicles
- crowd control
- provides better observation (height)
- one officer for a horse
9. One-person vs. two-person patrol
- area of much controversy /opinion
A. Some considerations
- study = 47% all killed had backup
- many calls not to be handled alone
- risk present rushing to backup officer
- two officers for “report taken” calls
- best use of personnel
(1) No option for 2-person patrols
- one-person less costly
- one-person = faster response time
(2) One-person patrol
(a) Positive = depend on yourself
- provide service you want to give
(b) Negative = wait for backup
- possibility = escape /assault
(3) Two-person patrol
(a) Positive = observation greater
- greater protection
- share report writing /driving
(b) Negative = become dependent
- conversations = your attention
PATROL PREPARTION
1.
Inspection and maintenance
- equipment and vehicle
A. Neglected equipment
- malfunction /accident
- maintenance should be automatic
- thoroughly familiar with equipment
(1) Department uniforms
- tailored /clean = attention /authority
- pride /demeanor
- good condition
- body armor = wear it
- position of gun belt
(2) Handgun (revolver /automatic)
- inspect /clean daily
- clean ammunition /change 6 months
(3) Batons
- straight /side-handle /collapsible
- proper condition
(4) Flashlight
- rechargeable /standard /mini-size
- carry on all shifts
(5) Chemical irritant
- mace spray = shake up
- not play around with
(6) Stun gun
- insure fully charged
- not play around with
(7) Handcuffs
- most abused police tool
- work cuffs frequently
- when using = double lock
- carry extra key
(8) Miscellaneous equipment
- notebook = very important
- pens = waterproof /colored
- chalk = mark items /outlines
- knife = when necessary to cut items
- footwear = good quality
- gloves = cut off shooting finger
- assigned vehicle = secured inside
B. Patrol vehicle
- this is your office
- stocked and secure
(1) Thoroughly inspect
- visual overview of exterior
(2) Check all equipment
- all lights
- P.A system /audible signals
- radios (mounted /handheld)
- computer system
- mounted cameras
C. Station preparation
- e-mails /daily bulletin /bulletin board
- computer = records checks /warrants
- officers going off shift
- dispatch
2. Personal Preparation
- extremely important
A. Mental preparation
- avoid occupying thoughts (family, etc.)
(1) Preparation starts prior to shift
- recall last shift
- want to accomplish this shift
(2) Treat each day = opportunity to learn
- enhance your skills
- investigative /community
- communication skills
(3) Focus on positive
- stimulate you mentally
- solving crime /appreciation shown
(4) Avoid locker room talk
- gossip /rumors
(5) Don’t enjoy your work
- liability = self /family /other officers
- signs of burnout = seek help
- need mental state of readiness
B. Spiritual state
- no matter what belief = come to grips
- life and death issues on the job
(1) Taking of a human life
- very traumatic
- resolve personal feelings /beliefs
- any hesitation = loss of your life
(2) Many officers have found:
- faith carries them through
C. Physical preparation
- must become a way of life
(1) Regimen that you like
- keep you alert /alive
- combat /cope with stress
- build confidence
- it will communicate strength
(2) Eating habits
- don’t be = fast-food addict
- never work on full stomach
- eat small energy-producing foods
- good diet becomes a way of life
3. Hiring process
- want to be a cop
A. Lifestyle
- stay out of trouble /good driving record
B. Preparation
C. Application process
- basic forms
D. Written exam
- general knowledge
- analytical ability
E. Physical agility
- run /sit-ups /pushups /obstacle course
F. Oral interview = 3 or 4 person board
F. Background
- family /friends /employers /neighbors
G. Polygraph
- be truthful
H. Psychological
- MMPI
- interview
I. Medical exam
J. Interview with chief /sheriff
K. Job offer
- field training officer
L. Academy
- 720 hours
M. Field training officer
N. Probation = one to two years