Line Officer Function
CJUS 104
Part 4: Aggressive Patrol and
Preventive Patrol
1. Police Patrol
- majority of time spent in patrol vehicle
A. Your office
- assigned permanently /rotate with other officers
- driving 3000 pounds of visible advertisement
- judge you based on your driving
(1) Become defensive driver
- vehicles tend to intimidate other drivers
- stop at intersection /refuse to pass
- “black and white fever”
(2) Police many times = chronic traffic violators
- not be stopped while in patrol vehicle
- rolling stop signs /pushing red lights
- stopping in middle of street to talk
- discourteous to the public
- hurts police-community relations
(3) Be courteous
- smile /wave when people wave to you
- motion people through the intersection
- observe all traffic laws
- but always look for escape route for car
B. Patrolling after dark
- patterns /techniques totally different after dark
(1) May patrol area “blacked out”
- stealth mode /no lights /brake-out switch
(2) Patrol area with all lights on
- high beam /spotlight /alley lights /etc.
(3) Best way to hide a patrol car
- act like all other cars /normal speeds
- high beam = better observation /concealment
C. Democratic patrol
- no identifiable crime patterns to pursue
- random democratic patrol
- each neighborhood deserves a “fair share”
- cover every street /business in your area
(1) Not possible = considering size
- good PR to be visible to all
- may take two or three shifts to cover all
2. Observation techniques
- reason for many arrests = “it just didn’t look right”
- often constitutes reasonable suspicion
- develops into probable cause
- law and facts are not readily apparent at the time
- not looking right = officer’s intimate knowledge
A. Knowing what looks right
- easier for officer to sense something wrong
- this knowledge helps establish probable cause
- helps when testifying in court
(1) Astute observer
- broken window /pry marks /missing screen
- vehicle parked in unusual area
- unusual vehicle parked in normal area
- abnormal lighting /people in unusual areas
- unusual sounds /barking dogs – other pets
(2) Years on patrol
- know people /patterns
- local business people /clerk behind counter
- normal patterns of life: jogger /corner man
(3) Power of observation = primary resource
- never stop turning head /constantly looking
B. Learning the beat on your feet
- get out of the patrol car
- explore territory = meet people
- know store employees /signs of trouble
(1) Stop and talk
- lounging around street corners /parks
- get names /addresses /faces to memory
(2) Walk around buildings
- know doors /windows /stairs /roof ladders
- but always know your location = emergency
3. Community Policing
- officers becoming involved
A. Traditional law enforcement
- cannot stop increase in crime
- crime /violence /drugs /gangs
- increasing prison population
- draining local /state /national resources
(1) New approach needed
- must address the cause of crime
- poor /needy /drug use /joining gangs
- encourage community participation
- make better use of existing resources
(2) Several different names for the concept
- COP: Community Oriented Policing
- NOB: Neighborhood Oriented Policing
- POP: Problem Oriented Policing
(3) Whatever the term
- not just another “tack on” program that
requires new resources
- it is a new philosophy and management style
(4) It is an organizational design that provides a
police-community partnership
- a different way of looking at policing
B. Fundamental to community policing philosophy
- building /sustaining safe communities
(1) Provides a framework
- to examine
- to proactively respond
- to changing demographics /social disorder /
physical decay
(2) Definition:
“A philosophy that promotes organizational
strategies, which support the systematic use of
partnerships and problem-solving techniques,
to proactively address the immediate conditions
that give rise to public safety issues such as
crime, social disorder, and fear of crime.”
(3) Problem solving
- a process of identifying problems
- establishing priorities
- coordinated community-police needs
assessment
(4) Community partnership
- refers to a combination
- neighborhood residents /schools /churches /
businesses /community organizations /and
government
C. Principles of COP
- philosophy
(1) Who is responsible for public safety
- redefines roles /relationships
- requires: shared ownership /decision-making
/and shared accountability
(a) Increases understanding /trust
- police and community members
(b) Shifts focus of police work
- from reactive traditional response
- to proactive problem solving
- includes public as well as police
(2) Management style
- requires buy-in of top management
- police /other government agencies
- delegates power to the line-officer
- makes COP decisions for neighborhood
(3) Organizational design
- decentralizes /de-specializes
- police services /operations /management
- relaxes “chain of command”
4. Crime prevention
- primary goal /objective of law enforcement
A. Prevent people from committing crimes
- two main elements of crime
- desire /opportunity
(1) Desire
- person wants to commit the crime
- numerous reasons for
- mental thinking /survival /drugs
(2) Opportunity
- no one around to see
- little chance of discovery /identification
(3) Law enforcement can impact: visible /active
B. Preventive patrol
- seeking our conditions that breed opportunity
(1) Conditions
- suspicious people /vehicles
- groups of people = streets /parking lots
- intoxicated individuals
- loiterers around parks /schools
- storefront windows /doors = obstructed
(2) High crime areas
- think like a criminal
- look for opportunities to commit crimes
- make recommendations for improvements
- provide crime prevention information
- know resources for vacation checks
(3) When checking buildings
- all windows /doors /vents
- be sure windows have glass
- look for roof access
(4) Actively seek citizen /community assistance
- become eyes /ears for you
- insure anonymity
- not preventive /pro-active w/o assistance
- produce positive relationship /support
C. Aggressive patrol
- orient self with patrol area at beginning
- “once over”
- establish general conditions /impending trouble
- large number of cars at certain home
(1) Be “systematically unsystematic”
- avoid any observable routine
- lunch /breaks /same street = same time
- criminals can take advantage = fixed patterns
- reduces possibility of ambushes
(3) Be selectively omnipresent
- everyone knows you are on the job
- never know where you will be /or when
- stop for short periods at “hot spots”
- back track /stay in immediate area
- be creative /use your imagination
D. Selective emphasis /enforcement
- being pro-active = reduce criminal activity
- visible presence = known criminals
- hangouts of known criminals
- suspicious vehicle plates = motels /bars
(1) Pro-active patrol = criminals uncomfortable
- unable to get into “M.O.”
- good analysis of intelligence information
- department’s “crook book” = familiar
(2) Random patrol vs. selective enforcement
- don’t know where to find criminals
- use random patrol
- selective enforcement = clue /pattern
(a) Any information = better direct patrol effort
(b) Specific high crime location
- profile of specific victims
(c) Examples:
- robberies of 7-11 stores
- theater patrons at closing time
- against elderly in a park
(3) In response to any concern of community
- lunch at high school /running stop signs
E. Proactive vs. reactive
- past years = reactive
- wait for crime /accident to occur
- respond: investigate /try to locate suspects
(1) Proactive = preventive
- concentrates on focused patrol
- directed towards surveillance
- following known criminals
(2) High patrol activity
- locations = statistically predict crime occurs
F. Stay alert /stay alive
- alertness = sometimes difficult to maintain
- long shifts /slow periods /personal problems
(1) Practice mental stimulation /relief exercises
- get out of the car
- avoid “nothing ever happens” trap
(2) Communicate with everyone = information
- other officers /informants /suspects
- service people = utilities /UPS /mail carriers
- bartenders /waitresses /waiters = very good
G. Traffic enforcement
- both aggressive /preventive
(1) Criminals = many very poor drivers
- selective enforcement reduces mobility
- evidence /contraband often found
(2) Traffic infractions = reduce traffic accidents
H. Stopping suspicious persons /vehicles
- different from ordinary stops
- watch your instincts /suspicion /intuition
(1) Instinct /intuition
- increase training /experience
(2) Learn by observing = awareness
- learn by perceiving = understanding
(3) Requires evaluation
- to contact /observe with backup in mind
- always notify dispatch
I. Proactive patrol
- all calls legitimate = proven otherwise (policies)
- there are no routine calls
- each call = increase knowledge /ability
- plan and think = what are you going to do
(1) Basic tactical considerations
- use invisible /silent deployment
(a) Do not telegraph arrival
- slow down near call
- turn-off headlights when dark
- park away from intended destination
- scan area = gather specific information
(b) Look at parked cars on approach
- places of concealment = bushes /trees
- observe area approaching = visual picture
(c) Approach from sides /at angle
- use flashlight = sparingly /quick on-off
- aware of noises you make
- assume = people know you are coming
- avoid “fatal funnel” = doors /windows
(2) Surprise
- you decide = when /where to make contact
- requires others = react /respond to you
- observe /listen before contact
(a) Only possible = invisible /silent approach
- allows control of situation
(3) Time
- almost always an ally
(a) Respond quickly to contain scene
- take time to investigate
- allows planning /information gathering
- not rushing into action
(4) Distance
- 90% all officers killed = 21 feet of attacker
- minimum distance = edged weapon attacks
- distance = part of your pre-plan
(5) Cover vs. concealment
- cover hides /stops bullets
- behind vehicle /block wall /solid buildings
- concealment = hides you
(6) Restraint
- means self-control
(a) Taking steps to compensate
- adrenaline rush /anger /fatigue /stress
(b) You assess your options
- training /planning come into play
- just part of the job
3. Plan your response and approach
- fix location in your mind
- map out best route = quickest response
- best direction = observe /coordinate
- prepared for alternate route
- all tactical considerations = mental checklist
A. Approach
- be alert /slow down
- observation /perception = risk assessment
(1) Observation
- awareness of surroundings (5 senses)
- critical = officer safety
(2) Perception
- understanding what you observe
- improves = experience /training
- build probable cause /identify facts
- must be accurate in police profession
B. Look and listen
- avoid “tunnel vision”
(1) Advantages /disadvantages of windows
- inside view for officer
- outside view for occupant(s)
(2) Quiet as possible
- shoes squeaking /keys rattling
(3) Stand to side of doors
- observe which way door opens
- use side for advantage /not next to windows
- listen before knocking
- knock softly at first = why?
- check hands of person /recheck continually
(4) Quickly scan and assess risks before entering
C. Inside houses /buildings
(1) Use a protective position
- affords maximum control
- back to wall = talk to subject
- be aware of attack from rear
(2) Consider protective sweep
- method depends on number of officers
- single = scan rooms as quickly as possible
(3) Never let your guard down
- be alert for unexpected
- keep dispatcher notified
D. Officer conduct and demeanor
- be polite /yet firm
(1) Conduct = business-like manner
- be professional /feeling = doing all you can
- you can smile /show your appreciation
- also show sympathy
(2) Be impartial
- do not show favoritism
- issue citations /make arrests if necessary
(3) Avoid profanity /vulgarity
- destroys respect /even between officers
(4) Smoking = offensive to some
- department policy /employment
(5) Be “habitually courteous” to everyone
- depends on situation /can be just as easy
- may want to talk to the person later
- attitude /file a complaint
E. Emergency calls
- request = immediate assistance if necessary
- protection /save a life = agency procedures
(1) General safety rules
- emergency equipment = legally /carefully
- mindful of the adrenaline rush
- other emergency vehicles responding