Aim: What patrol strategies are used by the Police?

Police Assignments Police Supervisors must decide how and when to assign Police Officers based on many factors: Police Supervisors must decide how and when to assign Police Officers based on many factors: 1. Crime Statistics 2. Percentage of 911 calls 3. Density of population (Urbanization) 4. Pressure from business and civic groups 5. Ethnicity 6. Socioeconomic Conditions

Patrol Techniques 1. Preventative Patrol 2. Hot Spot Patrol 3. Rapid Response Patrol 4. Foot Patrol 5. Bike Patrol 6. Motorized Patrol (RMP) 7. One man v Two man Patrol 8. Aggressive Patrol/Plain Cloths Patrol 9. Community Policing

Preventative Patrol Preventative Patrol Routine patrol of a neighborhood to prevent and deter criminal activity: RMP patrol to deter crime RMP patrol to deter crime Foot patrol Foot patrol Bike Patrol Bike Patrol Basis for having uniformed Auxiliary Police Basis for having uniformed Auxiliary Police

Hot Spot Patrol Also known as Directed Patrol: concentrates police personnel into areas where criminals are very active. concentrates police personnel into areas where criminals are very active. Hot Spots constantly change as criminals react to changing police activities. Hot Spots constantly change as criminals react to changing police activities.

Rapid Response Patrol This type of patrol relies on citizens: calling 911 calling 911 Police will respond in various numbers. Police will respond in various numbers. For this type of patrol to be effective; citizens must call 911 and clearly explain the emergency. For this type of patrol to be effective; citizens must call 911 and clearly explain the emergency.

Foot Patrol Until the 1930s, most Police Officers walked a “beat post”. They walked around the neighborhood and got to know everyone. After the 1930s Police Officers largely stopped walking beats. This trend is now coming back.

Bike Patrol Large Police Departments use bicycle patrol very heavily Bikes are: Bikes are: Bikes are inexpensive compared to vehicles Bikes are inexpensive compared to vehicles Easy to maintain Easy to maintain Less likely to get stuck in traffic jams. Less likely to get stuck in traffic jams. Police can quickly and quietly sneak up on suspects. Police can quickly and quietly sneak up on suspects.

Motorized (RMP) Patrol With police having to cover larger areas with less resources the police patrol car became utilized in the late 1930s. In NYC, patrol cars are known as RMPs or Radio Motor Patrol

One Man v Two Man Patrol Most police departments have begun employing one man patrols except on Midnight Shifts. The NYPD primarily uses two man patrols based on safety concerns with the exception being Highway Patrol and Canine Officers. Nassau and Suffolk County Police use one man patrol, however the LAPD still uses two man. Most police departments have begun employing one man patrols except on Midnight Shifts. The NYPD primarily uses two man patrols based on safety concerns with the exception being Highway Patrol and Canine Officers. Nassau and Suffolk County Police use one man patrol, however the LAPD still uses two man.

Aggressive Patrol Usually employs plain cloths police patrolling certain crime prone areas conducting “Sting Operations”. These officers are looking for in progress crimes. In NYC they are known as "Anti-Crime".

Community Policing Going back to the basics of policing. Bringing police officers into closer contact with civilians. The NYPD has hundreds of Community Affairs police officers who respond to certain conflicts with the community. They try to settle local disputes and other various non criminal problems before those problems become criminal.

Conclusion Police Departments around the country employ many different patrol techniques. However, what works in Los Angeles may not work in New York City, and what works in New York City may not work in Las Vegas, and what works in Las Vegas may not work in rural Alabama. Each police department must find the patrol techniques that work best for their situation.