Police Patrol Study Notes

Police Patrol

Chapter Overview

  • Purpose: Analyze various aspects of police patrol and its implications for crime prevention.

Definition and Importance of Police Patrol

  • Presence in Community: Essential for crime prevention purposes.

  • Most Common Type: Vehicle patrol is the predominant form.

  • Reactive Policing: Focuses on responding to calls rather than proactive measures.

Allocation of Police Patrol

  • Geographic Jurisdictions: Known as beats, the size is dependent on:

    • Number of calls received

    • Nature of the calls

  • Call Priority: Police patrols prioritize response based on the urgency of calls.

Call Priority

  • Faster Response for Critical Calls: Prioritizes emergencies, includes additional resources.

  • Response Time: Considered crucial in emergency situations.

Managing Calls for Service

  • The 311 System: A non-emergency number used for police and/or city services.

    • Reduces the number of 911 calls, though police often still handle many calls.

Differential Police Responses (DPRs)

  • Definition: Techniques utilized to manage police workloads effectively.

  • Priority Incidents: Allows officers to allocate time and resources toward higher priority incidents.

  • Limitations: DPRs do not engage in proactive policing efforts.

Preventive Patrol

  • Deterrent Effect: Creates a sense of safety due to marked police presence.

  • Strategies: Visiting specific locations increases engagement; effectiveness varies based on staffing and time.

Directed Patrol

  • Purpose: Assign officers to specific "hot spots" where crime is more likely to occur.

  • Criticism: Risks over-policing in certain communities; leads to inequities in enforcement.

    • Hot Targets: Areas heavily guarded.

    • Soft Targets: Areas unprotected and vulnerable.

Kansas City Preventive Patrol Experiment (1972-1973)

  • Objective: Tested the effectiveness of varying patrol levels on crime rates.

  • Findings:

    • Variations in patrol did not significantly impact crime rates.

    • No effect on crime, but increased public perception of safety.

Hot Spot Policing

  • Definition: Focusing on areas with a high concentration of crime (hot spots).

    • Characteristics: Typically small geographic areas.

  • Implementation in Kansas City Hot Spot Patrol Experiment (1990s):

    • Increased squad car presence.

    • Focus on detecting and seizing illegal firearms.

    • Generally produced better results.

Issues with Hot Spot Policing

  • Effectiveness: Generally accepted as effective by law enforcement.

  • Community Relations: Potential for strained relations between police and communities they serve.

Broken Windows Theory (1990s NYC)

  • Concept: Increased police presence and interaction with the community to deter illegal activities.

  • Police Crackdowns: Allocating additional resources to target specific crime issues.

  • Intended Outcomes: Deterring illegal conduct through increased awareness and presence.

Elements of a Police Crackdown

  • Operational Factors: Involves awareness, presence, and maintaining enforcement pressure.

  • Effect: Aimed to deter crime, with possible residual effects on community perception.

  • Related Concepts: Connects to the "War on Drugs" mobilization.

Traffic Stops

  • Common Reason for Police Contact: Typically initiated for traffic violations.

  • Scope of Traffic Stops: May lead to further investigative activities.

  • Evidence: Studies indicate little evidence of traffic stops leading to reduced crime rates, along with noted bias in implementation.

Pedestrian Stops

  • Legal Basis: Conducted based on reasonable suspicion; often involves frisking for weapons.

  • Statistics: About 1% of all citizen-police contacts.

  • Known as: Terry stops, originating from the case Terry v. Ohio regarding stop-and-frisk policies.

  • Research Insights: Mixed results concerning efficacy and public perception.

One- and Two-Officer Squads

  • Two-Officer Squads: Enhances officer safety, providing immediate backup, particularly in high-risk situations.

    • Benefits: Immediate support reduces the likelihood of incidents in dangerous areas.

  • One-Officer Units: Can improve cost-efficiency, but may pose increased risks during critical patrol incidents.

Foot Patrol

  • Second Most Common Patrol Form: Emphasizes community policing, often employed in larger police departments.

  • Goals: Intended to reduce crime and fear while improving relationships within the community.

Research on Foot Patrol

  • Perception: Reports suggest reduced crime perception levels in areas with foot patrols.

  • Effectiveness: Crime reduction noted particularly in hot spots; increased feelings of safety among residents.

Offender-Focused Strategies

  • Approach: Leverages criminal intelligence to identify habitual offenders.

  • Advantages: Targets those who offend frequently while being less intrusive on law-abiding citizens.

  • Effectiveness: Offers a more precise method of reducing crime overall.