Basic Police Patrol Duties

by Ralph Heibutzki

Patrolling a municipality to preserve law and order is the essence of a police officer's job, whether he walks on foot or drives. Technological innovations like two-way radio, cell phones and computer terminals in patrol cars have dramatically expanded police agencies' reach. However, most officers rely on acute observation and gut feelings to get their jobs done. A new officer's inability to read body language can raise his risk of injury or death, while mastering those cues can give him confidence to manage dangerous situations.

Crime Prevention

Uniformed police officers are assigned to patrol specific geographic areas, which they check for signs of criminal activity. Officers also conduct searches and cite, warn or arrest any offenders that they confront. Many of these activities occur as follow-up investigations of citizen complaints and emergency calls. These roles tend to be more compartmentalized at larger departments, where officers who show sufficient experience may serve on special bike, canine, horseback and motorcycle patrol units.

Community Relations

To patrol a neighborhood effectively, police officers must also win residents' trust. As "Police Chief" magazine observes, patrols offer an ideal opportunity for achieving this goal. This strategy, known as community policing, has become an increasingly popular approach since the 1980s. Instead of staying in their cars, officers continually talk with businesses, community leaders and residents. This approach can be implemented through bike or foot patrols, as well as public meetings to discuss issues affecting the neighborhood.

Investigating Accidents

Investigating accidents is another important task, as the Baton Rouge Police Department makes evident in its job description for police officers. Patrol officers are expected to direct traffic, examine the scene, interview witnesses, provide first aid for any injured victims, and take written statements from drivers. Other essential tasks include clearing any obstructions or wreckage and directing or rerouting traffic.

Prisoner Transport

An officer's patrol obligations aren't limited to the neighborhood in which she works. When prisoners must testify in legal proceedings or need hospital treatment, an officer must escort them and make sure that they're being properly guarded. Other jurisdictions may assign officers to watch jail trustees as they work in public and then search inmates after returning them to their cells.

Traffic Enforcement

Parking and traffic enforcement provides one of the biggest chances for officers and residents to interact. For most drivers, the most likely outcome is a verbal warning or written citation. In other cases, however, traffic stops might end with a stolen car's recovery or a fugitive's arrest. To protect themselves, officers watch for extreme nervousness, furtive movements, and lack of eye contract. Many departments actively teach this strategy, which heightens the officer's ability to protect himself by reading behavioral cues.

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