This paper examines the core roles and functions of police departments across the United States, including crime prevention, law enforcement, and community safety. It describes the four levels of law enforcement—local, state, federal, and military—and their respective jurisdictions. The paper then explores patrol operations as the foundation of policing, detailing four patrol types (random, directed, aggressive, and saturation) and six patrol methods (automobile, foot, motorcycle, bicycle, horse, and water/helicopter) used by agencies to monitor areas and prevent crime.
Every policing department or agency has a set of organizational goals and values that provide officers with a sense of direction and purpose. Even though various departments may have different functions, policing agencies share similar fundamental roles. The law determines what functions and roles police will have and dictates how they are to fulfill these responsibilities. The police operate under restrictions and guidelines that they must abide by.
The core roles of police include:
Police services are provided by four different levels of government: city, county, state, and federal. The local level consists of municipal police, county police, and county sheriffs. The departments within the local level have jurisdiction over their respective counties or cities with limited jurisdiction outside those areas.
At the state level, there are state police such as the highway patrol. State-level departments have jurisdiction within their state only. The highway patrol's jurisdiction is limited to highways and interstates within the state.
Federal-level agencies have jurisdiction across the entire country. At the federal level, there are 17 federal law enforcement agencies, which include but are not limited to the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Transportation Security Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Marshals Service, and the U.S. Secret Service. Military law enforcement also operates at the federal level but has jurisdiction only on the base to which officers are assigned.
The primary difference between federal and state law enforcement agencies lies in jurisdiction. Federal law enforcement enforces federal law, while state and local police enforce state and local laws. Federal agents cannot enforce state laws, and state policing agencies have authority only within their state.
A patrol is a group of personnel, such as police officers, who are assigned to monitor a specific geographic area. Patrol is often referred to as the "backbone of policing." The patrol officer serves many functions, including crime fighter, mediator, social worker, and service provider.
The objectives of patrol include:
These objectives are broken down into three types of interactions: information gathering, conflict resolution, and maintenance or restoration of control.
There are four different types of patrol, each with a different degree of effectiveness. Random or routine patrol occurs when officers assigned to an area move about in an unsystematic way. The goals of random patrol are to detect and deter crime through police presence. This type of patrol is also called preventative patrol. Officers engaged in random patrol are relied upon to respond to 911 calls to reduce response time.
Directed patrol focuses on targeted hot spots, crime problems, and offenders. This form of patrol is seen as proactive. The downside to directed patrol is that it is expensive.
Aggressive patrol is a form of directed patrol that focuses on crackdowns designed to draw media attention. The media coverage is intended to serve as a deterrent. The Kansas City Gun Experiment, in which intensive patrols targeted an 80-block, high-crime area with traffic stops and field interrogations, revealed that aggressive patrol can significantly reduce gun crimes, such as drive-by shootings and homicides.
Saturation patrol occurs when a high level of patrol is placed within a small geographic area. It is often used to reduce drunk driving and gang activity in certain areas.
There are many different patrol methods. The method used by police depends on the area that needs to be covered. The most common patrol methods are automobile and foot; other methods include motorcycle or bicycle, horse, and water or helicopter.
Automobile patrol is the most common patrol method because it offers officers mobility and flexibility. With an automobile, police officers can cover a larger area in less time. Having a vehicle available allows for easier transport of suspects and quick response to incidents.
Foot patrol is the second most common type of patrol. On foot patrol, the area an officer can cover during a shift is limited. The benefit of foot patrol is that officers can monitor and identify crimes being committed in areas that cannot be seen from an automobile.
Motorcycles are used primarily in traffic enforcement. An officer on a motorcycle can travel through heavy traffic with ease. Motorcycles are also used as high-profile police escorts and are often used in parades.
Bicycles are used in tight areas where vehicles cannot go. The bicycle lets the officer maintain high visibility and approachability while increasing mobility. Some police departments use Segways.
Horse patrol is not used often but provides officers mobility in places that automobiles and motorcycles cannot access. Horses may be used in parks, areas with rough or wild terrain, and in large crowd settings such as parades, protests, state fairs, or county fairs. The horse allows officers to sit up high, which provides enhanced visibility.
Harbor or water patrol is needed in areas with shorelines, beaches, or lakes. The presence of water presents opportunities for smuggling and other crimes. To investigate crimes that take place on the water, a helicopter or boat is necessary.
There are numerous policing agencies in the United States. They may have different tasks, but they all work toward the common goal of keeping citizens safe. Various types and methods of patrol are used to track and investigate crime. It will be interesting to watch technology develop and see what new methods will arise.
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