LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS AND PLANNING

WITH CRIME MAPPING

METHODS OF
PATROL

Baybay, Louie Jay P

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1. FOOT PATROL
Also called non-vehicular patrol, it is conducted by police officers moving in an area by foot. It is primarily
conducted in heavily populated areas, public places, and areas of convergence like markets, churches, schools,
transport terminals, amusement places and shopping malls. Foot patrol is also being deployed in areas that are
not accessible to motor vehicles. This method provides the patrol officers familiarity on the ground and better
observational, identification and solution to peace and order concerns in their beat also enables patrol officers to
establish and maintain favorable relations with the community through person-to-person contact.

Foot patrol
1. Its value lies in its ability to establish and maintain good, and positive community relations, particularly
true in downtown areas where merchants and shoppers enjoy the presence of a uniformed patrol officer,
2. Patrol officers are able to more readily detect situations which require police action.
3. They are able to develop excellent sources of information which can lead to the detection and intervention
in criminal activities.
4. Presence of patrol officers in crowded downtown shopping areas is a deterrent to criminals.

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
 Foot patrol proactively reduces  Slower response time
crime and improves relations
with community members
 Easier to catch perpetrators on
foot.
2. MOBILE PATROL
 Mobile patrol is conducted through the use of land-based vehicles as described bellows.

A. MOTORCYCLE PATROL
 Motorcycles are primarily used for conducting operations against motorcycle-riding criminals and those
perpetrating street crimes. The high mobility of motorcycle patrols even in traffic congested areas makes them
effective in addressing crimes. In rural areas, they are extensively deployed to patrol wider areas with less
developed road networks that limit the use of four-wheeled patrol vehicles. Motorcycle patrols are also used
for traffic management and for security escort duties.

Motorcycle Patrol
1. It has limited applications but can be used quite effectively under certain conditions.
2. It is effective in areas in which automobiles cannot be used and which require more mobility than is possible
in foot.

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
 Easier to do high speed chases  Their relatively high cost to
in traffic operate
 Quicker response time  Limited use in adverse weather
 Hazards associated with riding
them
B. AUTOMOBILE PATROL
 Marked police car equipped with two-way radio, blinkers and siren are used for covering a wider area and
carrying equipment and personnel. This method of patrol enables quick response to calls for police assistance
and provides the officers some degree of protection from criminal assaults and inclement weather.

Automobile Patrol
1. It is the most prevalent method and useful, enabling the patrol officers to cover a considerable area and to
respond promptly to citizen’s call for service.
2. Provide comfort n inclement weather and is able to transport equipment and materials which patrol officers
require in performance of duties.
3. Among its inherent disadvantages is that the officer becomes physically isolated from the citizens on the beat.
As a result, the patrol officer loses the ability to communicate freely with people. He is not also able to
effectively detect subtle characteristics in the surroundings which may suggest criminal activity.
4. When a patrol officer is assigned to a motorized beat, the officer should, as often as practical, park and lock his
car and go out on the streets and meet people. Officers should be equipped with portable radios.
5. While the automobile is a highly effective means of patrol, it should not be relied on too heavily.

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
 Quicker response time  Harder to catch perpetrators on
 The increased presence foot.
delivered by patrol officers and
vehicles is an effective
deterrent against theft,
vandalism, and other
unwarranted activity.
C. BICYCLE PATROL
 Bicycles are used to enable the police to patrol remote streets and narrow pathways including beaches and
parks, compared to foot patrol, the bicycle patrol provides speed, mobility and flexibility. Moreover, the use of
the bicycle for patrolling provides alternative means of saving fuel and promoting physical fitness among the
patrol officers.

Bicycle Patrol
1. It has limited applications but can be used quite effectively under certain conditions.
2. It is effective in areas which automobiles cannot be used and which require more mobility than is possible in
foot.

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
 Bikes are less threatening than  A bike officer won’t be able to get
patrol vehicles across town quickly as an officer in
 Perpetrators don’t notice bike a squad car.
patrols
 Bike patrols can go where
traditional patrol vehicles can’t
 Bikes provides environmental
and health benefits
 The flip side of that is that a
bicycle officer can cut between
buildings or take other shortcuts
which the officers in the squad car
aren’t able to use.
3. WATERBORNE PATROL
 Watercrafts are used for law-enforcement, search rescue and security operations in municipal and inland
waters. At times, watercraft can be used to transport patrollers in remote areas accessible only via water
transportation.

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
 All free to use and allows for  More risky: water patrol is more
flexible patrolling service with no risky as compared to other patrols
congestion. because there is always danger of
 It doesn’t cause as much pollution sinking ships or boats.
as automobile and aircraft patrols.  Slow speed as compared to airborne
patrol

4. AIRBORNE PATROL
 The PNP air unit primarily uses aircraft to provide aerial support to police units on the ground through air
surveillance or spotting during pursuit operations against criminals. It can also be used in tactical deployment
of specialized units such as snipers, RRU’s and SWAT.

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
 Speed over long distances.  High cost
 Access to remote areas,  Crashes: the chance is greatest at
mountainous areas, over giant the hours of darkness and in poor
water expanses. weather.
 Faster mobilization as compared
to waterborne patrols.
5. MOUNTED PATROL
 Horses may be used for patrolling areas with rough terrain especially in rural setting that are inaccessible by
mobile patrol. In some cases, mounted patrol can also be used for crowd control operations.

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
 Height advantage, when  Not suitable for traffic
patrolling in parking lots, officers  There’s also some possibility of
can see the entire parking lot injury to the horse.
because of the height while riding
horse.
 If there is a disturbance in a
congested area, mounted officers
will maneuver through the crowd

6. CANINE PATROL
 Dog patrols are used primarily for search purposes, to detect contraband and to tract down missing wanted
persons.
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
 Detect explosives, search  Subject to dangers: sometimes the
criminals, search drugs. K9 officers are expected to work in
dangerous areas and run great
distances in harsh environments.