Police Patrol Strategies: Reactive vs Proactive

Reactive Patrol

• Responding to or dealing with a crime after it occurs
• Requires immediate response to an incident to increase the likelihood of catching a suspect
• Typical in traditional policing, involving responding to calls and taking reports about recurring problems in the community

Proactive Patrol

• Discourages criminal activity through a regular officer presence in the area
• Involves continuously traveling through the patrol area to establish a visible presence
• Requires interacting with residents and the public for short periods to build relationships
• Fosters close ties with community members, providing a potential source of information for future investigations

Reactive Patrol

• Responding to or dealing with a crime after it occurs
• Requires immediate response to an incident to increase the likelihood of catching a suspect
• Typical in traditional policing, involving responding to calls and taking reports about recurring problems in the community

Proactive Patrol

• Discourages criminal activity through a regular officer presence in the area
• Involves continuously traveling through the patrol area to establish a visible presence
• Requires interacting with residents and the public for short periods to build relationships
• Fosters close ties with community members, providing a potential source of information for future investigations

Community-Oriented Policing

• Aims to address the root causes of crime and other community issues through collaboration between law enforcement and the community
• Focuses on identifying and solving problems specific to particular neighborhoods

Key Components of Community-Oriented Policing

• Community Partnerships

  • Foster understanding and trust between law enforcement agencies and the community
  • Partners may include law enforcement representatives, government agencies (e.g., public housing, mental health), and community representatives (e.g., local businesses, professionals, neighborhood leaders)

• Problem Solving

  • Enables the development of long-term, proactive programs to address community problems
  • Examples of building community partnerships include:
    • Conversing with local restaurant owners and patrons
    • Engaging in community activities (e.g., playing basketball with youth while on patrol)
  • Positive relationships facilitate information sharing to better understand crime-related issues and inform the community about law enforcement methods

Community-Oriented Policing

• Community-oriented policing consists of two main components: community partnerships and problem solving.
• Community partnerships aim to increase understanding and trust between law enforcement agencies and their communities.

Community Partnerships

• Community partners may include:
  • Law enforcement representatives (elected, sworn, or civilian)
  • Government representatives (e.g. public housing and mental health agencies)
  • Community representatives (e.g. local businesses, professional groups, and neighborhood leaders)
• Building community partnershipsallows law enforcement agencies to develop long-term, proactive programs and address community problems.

Problem Solving

• Problem solving is the second component of community-oriented policing.
• Effective community partnerships enable information sharing to learn about crime-related issues in the community.
• Community partnerships establish a bond and inform the community about law enforcement agencies' methods and duties.

Building Community Partnerships

• Building relationships through casual conversations, such as with local restaurant owners and patrons.
• Engaging in community activities, such as playing basketball with local youth, can help build positive relationships.
• Positive and professional relationships enable information sharing and foster trust between law enforcement agencies and the community.

Pre-Shift Equipment Checks

• Ensure all equipment is present and functional on your duty belt at the start of every shift.
• Verify the functionality of essential items, including flashlights.

Patrol Vehicle Inspections

• Regularly inspect patrol vehicles to ensure all equipment is working properly.
• Verify that preventive maintenance on vehicles is up to date.

Emergency Equipment Checks

• Frequently inspect emergency equipment, such as fire extinguishers, biohazard gear, and first-aid kits, to ensure functionality.

Body Camera Maintenance and Use

• If required to wear a body camera, receive training on its proper use, maintenance, and storage.
• Understand the legal requirements for recording law enforcement activities with body cameras.
• Know the data retention period for recorded footage.

General Equipment Maintenance

• Never assume that others have maintained equipment; always verify functionality and safety.
• Routinely check equipment to ensure it is working and stored safely.

Roll Call Overview

• Brief operational meeting that officers attend before starting a shift
• Provides information about current issues to keep in mind while on patrol

Sources of Information

• Oral instruction from supervisors
• Records and reports of officers from previous shifts
• Computer systems, radios, telephones, or other media (in some agencies)

Roll Call Information

• BOLOs (Be On the Lookout)
• Addresses requiring extra patrol
• Addresses requesting extra patrol
• Wanted and missing persons
• Stolen vehicles
• Stolen and lost vehicle license plates
• Suspicious incidents
• Officer safety bulletins
• Safety concerns

Becoming Familiar with the Patrol Area

• As a patrol officer, one of the first things to learn is the layout of the assigned area, district, or jurisdiction, which may remain the same or change daily.
• Factors that influence patrol area changes include staffing, number of calls, and individual assignments.
• Before going on patrol, identify the boundaries of the assigned area.
• Familiarize yourself with the area by learning about:

  Key Features

  • Major roads
  • Landmarks
  • Community resources
• Always carry a map with important landmarks and patrol areas highlighted.
• Identify key people in the area, including:

  Community Members

  • Neighborhood watches
  • Business owners
  • Mail carriers
  • Utility and sanitation workers
  • Newspaper delivery people
  • Regular pedestrians and drivers
• Familiarize yourself with community resources, such as:

  Community Resources

  • Shelters
  • Social service agencies
  • Internal agency resources

Becoming Familiar with the Patrol Area

• As a patrol officer, one of the first things to learn is the layout of the assigned area, district, or jurisdiction, which may remain the same or change daily.
• Factors that influence patrol area changes include staffing, number of calls, and individual assignments.
• Before going on patrol, identify the boundaries of the assigned area.
• Familiarize yourself with the area by learning about:

  Key Features

  • Major roads
  • Landmarks
  • Community resources
• Always carry a map with important landmarks and patrol areas highlighted.
• Identify key people in the area, including:

  Community Members

  • Neighborhood watches
  • Business owners
  • Mail carriers
  • Utility and sanitation workers
  • Newspaper delivery people
  • Regular pedestrians and drivers
• Familiarize yourself with community resources, such as:

  Community Resources

  • Shelters
  • Social service agencies
  • Internal agency resources

Patrol Methods

• There are various patrol methods, including motor vehicle, foot, and bicycle patrol, as well as specialized forms such as marine, mounted, air, ATV, motorcycle, and personal transporters.

Choosing a Patrol Method

• The area being patrolled determines the most suitable patrol method to use.

Vehicle Patrol

• Using a vehicle allows for coverage of larger areas.
• However, it can isolate officers from residents and divert their attention.

Foot Patrol

• Advantages of foot patrol include:
  • Being visible to the public and accessible to the community.
  • Ability to closely investigate community concerns and observe specific areas.
• Daytime foot patrol:
  • Offers high visibility to community members.
  • Provides greater access to the patrol environment, allowing for observation of minor details.
• Nighttime foot patrol:
  • Allows officers to use darkness to conceal their approach to calls for service.

Effective Patrol Strategy

• Varying patrol routines is essential to prevent others from predicting patrol patterns.
• Combining vehicle and foot patrol enables officers to cover large areas and observe specific areas closely.

Observation in Law Enforcement

• Observation is the act of recognizing an occurrence using your senses to notice people, things, or circumstances
• Observational skills can be improved through practice, such as memorizing descriptions of cars, people, and details at a scene

Observing Others

• When observing others, take note of their: • Appearance • Height • Weight • Hair • Clothing • Approximate age • Other personal details

Observing Situations

• Focus on situations or behaviors that are important to law enforcement
• Note what is usual or unusual activity within a certain area
• Avoid distractions and observe the entire scene before making a judgment

Identifying Cover and Concealment

• When arriving at a scene, immediately identify cover and concealment areas to observe activity and protect yourself from threats.

Cover Techniques

• Cover is a bullet-resistant barrier between an officer and a threat, protecting from incoming gunfire.
• Examples of cover include:
  • Automobile engine blocks
  • Brick walls
  • Dirt embankments
  • Concrete
  • Steel
  • Thick wood
• Move from cover to cover when approaching or advancing on a shooter to keep your head and body protected.

Concealment Techniques

• Concealment is an object or group of objects that creates a visual barrier between an officer and a threat, but may not stop a projectile.
• Concealment provides camouflage, allowing you to observe and remain hidden from view.
• Examples of concealment include:
  • Shrubs
  • Fences
  • Interior walls
  • Objects that keep you hidden from view and provide a position to observe from
• It is preferable to use cover rather than concealment, as cover provides greater protection from incoming gunfire.

Visual Observation

• Environmental and physical factors can affect vision, including visual defects like nearsightedness and farsightedness that require corrective lenses
• Lighting from objects can distort color perception, and dimly lit objects can blend into the background and be hard to distinguish

Auditory Observation

• Background noises can prevent recognition of specific sounds indicating a crime or incident
• Noise from traffic, residences, and environmental sounds can be distracting

Olfactory Observation

• Smell can help identify dangerous or illegal substances, such as gasoline, petroleum products, natural gas, or gunpowder
• Weather conditions or health can affect the sense of smell, and strong odors can inhibit the ability to smell other substances
• Hazardous materials like chlorine gas or ammonia can be harmful if inhaled
• Some hazardous substances, like fentanyl, are not easily recognizable and can be fatal if inhaled

Tactile Observation

• Touch can help identify items during a search, but always wear gloves and appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to avoid touching hazardous materials
• Gloves will also ensure the crime scene is not disturbed
• Touching tires or engines to check for heat can help determine if a vehicle was recently driven

Importance of Safety

• Never use taste to identify unknown substances, as it can be fatal
• Use senses to identify safety concerns, but prioritize safety and take precautions to avoid harm