Chapter 7

What is the backbone of policing?

Patrol.

Why are patrol officers considered the gatekeepers of the criminal justice system?

They make many of the most important first decisions in criminal justice cases.

Q: What are the two primary functions of police field operations?

A: Patrol and investigations.

What were Peel's original goals for patrol?

Deter crime
Enhance public safety
Provide accessible police service.

What are the three modern functions of patrol?

1.) Creating and maintaining an impression of omnipresence
2.) Responding to crime
3.) Promoting public safety.

What is meant by the impression of omnipresence?

Creating the perception that police are everywhere.

What relationship exists between police-population ratios and crime reduction?

Higher police-to-population ratios do not automatically reduce crime.

What measure is often more useful than a police-population ratio?

The number of officers assigned to patrol.

What factor is most commonly used to distribute patrol officers?

Demonstrated workload.

Q: What are designated patrol areas called?

A: Beats.

How does beat size change as calls for service increase?

Beats become smaller.

When do most serious crimes and disturbances occur?

At night.

In what neighborhoods is crime generally higher?

Poorer neighborhoods.

Which population uses police services the most?

Low-income populations.

What is the primary method of assigning police shifts?

Seniority.

What is shift bidding?

A process in which officers select shifts based on seniority.

Who serves as the first-line supervisor in policing?

The sergeant.

What is Hot Spot Policing?

Concentrating police resources in high-crime locations

How are hot spots commonly identified?

Through crime mapping.

What impact can increased patrols, proactive arrests, and POP have?

Significant gains in crime prevention.

What is a hot spot?

An area receiving a disproportionate number of calls for service.

What is the most common patrol method in the United States?

Automobile patrol.

What advantages does automobile patrol provide?

Greater area coverage
Increased visibility
Faster response.

Q: What is the primary advantage of foot patrol?

A: Improved and community public relations trust.

What is the major limitation of foot patrol?

Limited response capability and coverage.

Q: How does enhanced foot patrol affect citizens?

It increases feelings of safety.

Why do departments prefer one-officer patrol cars?

Greater efficiency.

Q: What advantage do two one-officer cars provide over one two-officer car?

A: Double and area availability calls. coverage for the

What concern is associated with one-officer patrol cars?

Officer safety.

Who developed the three policing styles?

James Q. Wilson.

Which policing style emphasizes peacekeeping and order maintenance?

Watchman style.

Which policing style emphasizes aggressive law enforcement?

Legalistic Style.

Which policing style emphasizes community responsiveness?

Service Style.

What is called the nerve center of the modern police department?

The communications center.

How is contemporary police work generally characterized?

Citizen-dominated, reactive, and incident-based.

Who usually staffs communications centers?

Civilians.

Where and when was the first 911 system created?

In Haleyville, Alabama, in 1968.

What is the 911 system considered?

An information-processing mechanism.

Why are 911 operators called information brokers?

They gather information, evaluate it, and route it for action.

Why is clear information during a 911 call important?

It can be life-saving for responding officers.

How do operators obtain needed information from callers?

By asking persistent questions.

Why do some 911 calls become lengthy?

Operators must gather detailed information.

How many metropolitan areas were included?

Three metropolitan areas.

What activities make up most police work?

Peacekeeping
Order maintenance
Conflict resolution.

What type of crime accounts for the majority of calls?

Property crime.

Where are most calls for service concentrated?

Small number of addresses.

What relationship exists between response time and solving crimes?

Research found no significant relationship.

What is discovery time?

The time between a crime occurring and being discovered.

What is reporting time?

The time between the discovery and reporting of a crime.

What is processing time?

The time between receiving a call and dispatching an officer.

What is travel time?

The time it takes officers to reach the scene.

What factor most influences citizen satisfaction?

Police response time.

What patrol question had not been scientifically studied before the 1970s?

Whether patrol presence actually reduced crime.

Q: Why is the Kansas City Preventive Patrol Experiment significant?

A: It effectiveness. first of patrol scientific test the was

Q: What was a reactive beat?

A: A answered beat calls. no only patrol preventive that with

What was a control beat?

A beat with normal patrol levels.

What was a proactive beat?

A beat receiving two to three times the normal level of patrol.

What effect did patrol variations have on crime rates?

No significant impact on crime.

What effect did patrol variations have on citizens' feelings of safety?

There was no significant impact on perceptions of safety.

What effect did patrol variations have on citizen behavior and lifestyle?

No significant behavioral or lifestyle changes.

What effect did patrol variations have on attitudes toward police?

No significant impact on attitudes toward police.

What effect did additional foot patrol have on serious crime?

It did not reduce serious crime.

How did additional foot patrol affect citizens' perceptions of safety?

Perceptions of safety increased significantly.

Q: How did additional foot patrol affect fear of crime?

A: Fear crime decreased. of

How did additional foot patrol affect attitudes toward police?

Attitudes toward police improved.

What is Differential Response?

Classifying calls by their seriousness and matching the response accordingly.

What are the three Differential Response options?

1.) Immediate response,
2.) Delayed response
3.) Alternate reporting with no officer response.

Which calls are routed to 911?

Calls requiring immediate police presence.

Which calls are routed to 311?

Non-emergency calls.

Why do departments use non-sworn personnel?

To free patrol officers to handle routine tasks.

Q: What is the backbone of policing?

A: Patrol.

What activities occupy most patrol officers?

Responding to calls and patrolling beats.

What type of calls dominates police workload?

Non-criminal calls for service.

How are police officers more accurately described?

Peacekeepers rather than crime fighters.

What is a major goal of modern patrol?

Police became more proactive and better connected with communities.