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Patrol
Division
The Patrol Division falls under the command of
the Operations Captain. The Division is the largest and most visible element
of the Police Department. Its members, mostly uniformed officers, patrol the
City’s streets around the clock. Under the direct supervision of a Patrol
Lieutenant or Sergeant, the Patrol Officers function as the eyes and ears of
the Police Department. They, in partnership with our community and other
city, township, state, and federal agencies, enhance the quality of life
for the citizens it serves.
The City is divided into two primary patrol
areas, or beats, that are supplemented by additional sub-beats. Officers
with specialized training based on emerging crime trends and patterns
provide a strategic response to effectively prevent and detect crime and to
apprehend and prosecute criminals.
The Patrol Officer is the initial responder to the 15,000+ police service
calls per year ranging from violent crime to house watches. The Patrol
Division is further responsible for vehicle and pedestrian traffic, law
enforcement, and crash investigation. In addition, utilizing crash data,
officers monitor specific sites with high crash rates, address
traffic-related complaints (speeding, traffic light violations, etc.) and
conduct selective enforcement in high pedestrian traffic areas such as
schools and parks.
The Patrol Division is staffed twenty-four hours a day and broken down into
three primary patrol shifts or watches, with additional power cars and
specialty cars assigned during peak hours to maximize coverage.
Specialization Officers are selected and trained from the patrol ranks to
supplement the overall operation of the Division. These sub units include
the Bicycle Patrol, Child Seat Safety Program, D.A.R.E., Evidence Technician
Program, Field Training Officer Program, and Canine Program.
Our average daily calls for service are consistent each day of the week, and
our department’s peak hours of service calls are often between 3:00 p.m. and
9:00 p.m. A Patrol Lieutenant or Sergeant in the capacity of Watch Commander
oversees the daily operations of the watches and is available to explain
police operations and mediate citizen complaints or inquires. The Watch
Commander can be reached by calling the Police Administrative Desk at (708)
924-7300.
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