POLICE PATROL OPERATIONS The Evolution of Police Patrol

What is Patrol? Police is the agency of a community or

government that is responsible for maintaining
According to Hale, Patrol is the essence public order and preventing and detecting
of police function while Payton said Patrol crime. The idea of the police force as a
division is the backbone of a police department. protective and law enforcement organization
However, making it simpler, patrol may refer to developed from the use of military bodies as
the regular tour made by a guard in a place in guardians of the peace, such as the Praetorian
order to protect it or to maintain order. It could Guard of ancient Rome.
also mean a person or a group (such as a police
or military unit) sent to carry out a tour of duty The Praetorian Guard is composed of
in a certain place with a particular mission Roman soldiers or centurions carefully selected
either for reconnaissance purposes or simply to by the commander of the city under the
provide protection. authority of Emperor Ceasar. The Romans
achieved a high level of law enforcement, which
Etymology of the Term Police and Patrol remained in effect until the decline of the
As discussed earlier, the term police originated empire and the onset of the Middle Ages.
from the Greek word politeia, which means ‘civil Beginning in the 15th century, policing became
organization’ and ‘the state’; the Romans a task of the heads of fiefdoms and
slightly changed the word to politia. The French principalities.
changed the word to police to call those people Police in the Ancient Time
authorized to implement the law. The English
and the Americans borrowed the word from the In recorded history, we can find many
French and used it to describe a law enforcer. documents and archeological finds that
The word Cop and Constable are other common insinuate a form of organized police. For
descriptions of a police officer. Cop is a example, a clay tablet used by the ancient
European term meaning to catch or seize. Babylonian dated, around 2000 BC, contains a
report from a Babylonian officer to his superiors
It must be noted that the terms notifying them that he had proceeded to the
constable and patrol came from the French. man’s house as ordered, arrested him, taken his
Patrol originated directly or via German Patrolla fingerprints and then taken control of his
from the French patrouller (patroullier), which property. Around the same date, the discovery
originally means ‘to walk through mud in a in the Indus valley revealed not only that this
military camp.’ city had sewers and a bathroom in each house,
but that there are special “watch-houses” which
were used by policemen whose duty it was to
patrol the streets and maintain order.
 In both the Old Testament (Song of In England, each petty kingdom was
Solomon, Isaiah and Jeremiah) and the New divided into shires or counties. Each shire was
Testament (Matthew and John), we find the responsibility of a “Reeve”, later called the
references to “watchmen” whose duty it was to Sheriff, who in turn was responsible to their
protect the city and arrest offenders. King for law and order in his respective district.
Each Shire was broken down into Hundreds (100
The hieroglyphics of the ancient households) headed by a Hundredman, later
Egyptians indicates that they had police officers. known as a High Constable. Each hundred was
They had special flag with its distinctive further broken down into Tythings (10 families)
emblem, a gazelle with a large ostrich feather headed by a Tythingman or Chief Tythingman
attached to its neck. There was a constant for who was elected by the group, later on replaced
some type of protective police patrol because of by the Constable in the 12th century. He served
the great treasures hidden in the many tombs. as constable and judge.
It was in this regard that the Egyptians became
the first people to use police dogs on patrol. Another form of police protection used
They also invented the lock. at the end of this era was for each able bodied
man to serve so much time patrolling the town
The police were civilians called at night as a “Watchman.” Later, it was required
“medjay” and headed by an Egyptian military that they call out the time and weather on the
officer. hour.
Augustus, just before the time of Christ, The Hue and Cry - It was an ancient
formed the “Vigiles” of Rome, a group of over Saxon practice that the invaders brought over to
two thousand men, armed with staves and England. The horn, the oldest known warning
shortsword, whose duty was to keep the peace device in history, was sounded when a person
and fight fires. committed a crime, or a felon escaped, and it
Police in the Middle Ages was detected. When they hear this, they raised
a cry, sounded their horns, and by law had to lay
In the early Middle Ages (a period from aside their work and join their pursuit.
the 5th Century A.D. to about 1350), a system of
mutual protection was developed called the Keepers of the Peace - At the end of the
“Frankpledge”. Under this system, a community 12th Century (1195), King Richard issued a
was divided into tithings or groups of 10 men, proclamation entitled “Keepers of the Peace”,
each member of which was responsible for the requiring the appointment of knights to keep
conduct of the other members of his group and the King’s Peace. Some believe that the present
for the assurance that a member charged with a “shield” type badge used by some police
breach of the law would be produced at court. departments had its origin with the shield the
knights used. They keep guard at bridges and
This system has in some ways prevailed in the gates and checking on people leaving and
British military. If one man makes a mistake, the entering the town.
whole group to which he belongs is punished.
Statute of Winchester (Watch and
England Ward Act) - Near the end of the 13th Century
(1285), the Statute of Winchester enacted the England in the same year. This law led to the
system of Watch and Ward Act. A watch was creation of the Metropolitan Police Force of
stationed between sunset and sunrise at each London, which is viewed by some historians as
gate of a walled town. It revived the Hue and the first organized uniformed police form. This
Cry. Some watches are grouped together for police force was later called Scotland Yard.
protection and patrolled the town in “Marching Being the sponsor of the law, Peel became the
Watches”. first head of the police organization thus
earning the title of “The Father of Modern
The Charlies - Near the middle of the Policing System.”
17th Century (1663), King Charles passed an act
which provided in London one thousand Night The “New Police” by Peel were not well
Watchmen or bellmen to be on duty from received at first. Oftentimes, they were referred
sunset to sunrise and they were called Charlies. to as “Peel’s Bloody Gang,” “Blue Devils,” and
Also referred to by the local citizens as “Shiver “Dirty Papists.”
and Shake” watch because they were often old
and frail and would run off if they saw any France
trouble, or heard a cry for help. They carried The French Police is quite old. During
long staves and dimly lit lanterns, and they the Roman Empire, France was the Roman
called out the hour and weather conditions. province Gaul, and the French seemed to
Some were not honest and sometimes work for expand on Augustus Caesar’s idea of police by
criminals as lookouts. Because of this giving them very wide powers including price
ineffectiveness, merchants hired their own control, welfare, public morals, and even sitting
watchman who was known as the “Merchant in judgment of these offenders. They (the
Police.” police) handled duties that today we consider
“civil” matters and their power came directly
Bow Street Runners - In 1748, Henry
Fielding became the Chief Magistrate at Bow from the king not from the community.
Street in Middlesex, London. He organized a 16th Century - Paris had two patrols:
group of men known as Bow Street Runners The Citizen Night Guard; (similar to English
whose task was to run errands for the Bow Watchman) and the Royal Guard which was
Street Court. He later formed The Bow Street probably for the king’s protection. At this time,
Horse Patrol whose duty was to patrol the main Saint-Louis gave the Guard a motto that is even
roads thus secure the travelers from today on the French police emblem, “Vigilat ut
highwaymen or highway bandits. According to Quiescant” (He watches that they may sleep).
some books, Bow Street Runners was the first
organized foot patrol and Bow Street horse End of 18th Century (1791) - The
Patrol was the first mounted police on patrol. position of “Officers de Paix” was formed (origin
of “Peace Officer”).

The Metropolitan Police - In 1829, Sir Robert

Peel introduced the Metropolitan Police Act and First Police Organization (headed by
was passed by the English parliament of Louis-Marie Debelleme)- In truth, the
French were the first to establish a group of patrol before the modernization of the United
uniformed police officers tasked to patrol the States of America:
city of Paris. This police force was called
 Philadelphia, 1833 – instituted the first
‘Sergent de Ville’ (servant of the city) which was
organized six months earlier before the creation daytime, paid police service
of Metropolitan Police Force of London.  New York, 1844 – organized the first
United States modern American police force based on the
English Metropolitan police.
In Colonial Times - As former colony of
England, it borrowed most of th system of its  In the frontier areas – law enforcement
was developed on a local level without many
country of origin.
established rules. Enforcement was aided by
Two main trends in law enforcement were: the use of the old legal process “Posse
Comitatus” (power of the state to summon
 North – life was more urban oriented, assistance in enforcing the law). To beef up law
and the Watch or Constable system seemed to enforcement, “Wanted Poster” and “Bounty
be best suited. Hunters” were used.
 South – development was more rural  San Francisco formed the “Committee
because of agriculture, hence, the sheriff system of Vigilance” in lieu of an established police.
became the trend. Their motto: “Fiat Justitia Ruat Coelum”
Other pertinent developments: (Heaven decrees, Let There Be Justice).

 Boston, 1636 – formed the first “Night  Pendleton Act of 1833 – established
Watch” civil Service for federal employees.

 Plymouth, 1634 – first constable Modern Period - This period began in

the 1920’s with the use of automobile patrol
 New York (Dutch colonists), twenty and voice radio communications.
years later – formed the “Ratelwatch” (rattle
watch). World War II – During the war, the following
were some of the events highlighting policing in
 Philadelphia, at the turn of century – America:
set up a system that obligated duty where
citizens served as Watchmen.  Difficulty of getting police personnel.

American watchmen were called  However, since many young men joined
“Leathermen” because they wore varnished the military police, they were stimulated to
leather hats. pursue career in police work.

 GI Bill – required police men to get

college education and the “New Breed” was
Intermediate period – the following born.
were the key events concerning police and
Philippines  1935 - American Police Force withdrawn
with the advent of the Commonwealth. Capt.
The evolution of policing system and Columbus Piatt was the last American Police
police patrol in the country developed from the Chief in Manila. Col. Antonio C. Torres became
practice of different tribes. The common the first Filipino Police Chief.
tradition was to select able-bodied young men
to protect their villages from the depredation of With the outbreak of the Pacific War:
wild animals that prey on their crops and
 1939 - The Manila Police Department
livestock.
introduced the bicycle patrol.
Some Important Dates or Events in Early
 Dec. 8, 1941 - Col. Torres declared
Policing particularly in the area of patrol
organization (some were already discussed in manila as an open city.
the Preliminaries of this book):  Jan. 2, 1941 - The first element of the
 1712 - “Carabineros de Seguridad Japanese Imperial Army entered Manila. The
Japanese Military Police (Kempetai) took Chief
Publico” was organized for the purpose of
carrying the regulation of the State and was Torres in custody and rounded the members of
the Manila police and ordered them to
armed and considered as the Mounted Police.
cooperate. They were held responsible to
 Jan. 8, 1836 - “Guardrilleros,” a body of maintain peace and order. The MPD was
rural police organized in each town as renamed Metropolitan Constabulary under the
established by a Royal Decree. Supervision of the Bureau of Constabulary.

 Feb. 12, 1852 - “Guardia Civil,” was  Feb. 7, 1945 - Gen. Douglas McArthur
created by a Royal Decree issued by the crown returned to the Philippine. The Battle of Manila
to partially relieve the Spanish Peninsular ended. The MPD was reconstituted and placed
Troops of their policing towns. under American control. Col. Marcus Ellis Jones
became the Chief of Police.
 1899 - Post Office Inspection system
begun. Post War Era:

 1901 - Department of Public Instruction  Mar. 17, 1954 - Automobile Patrol was
was concerned with peace and order. Gen. introduced in Metro Manila. Isaias Alma Jose,
Howard Taft became the first Civil Governor of the first Chief of mobile patrol of MPD.
the Philippine.
 Dec. 13, 1990 - RA 6975, An Act
 July 18, 1901 - The PC, better known as establishing the PNP under a Reorganized
the Insular Constabulary, was organized, the Department of the Interior and local
first insular police force in the Philippines, government and for other purposes.
manned mostly by Filipinos but most officers
 1998 - RA 8551, the PNP Attrition Law,
were Americans. Capt. Henry Allen named as
the first Chief of the PC. “Professionalization Law”

Present Period
 The country through the Philippine peace and order maintenance covers the
National Police and the Department of Interior peacekeeping role and community-oriented
and Local Government in coordination with services (community service role). Note that
other government agencies particularly the peace and order maintenance has no law
Armed Forces of the Philippines, has tapped the enforcement implications. Domestic trouble is a
involvement of the community in policing. One sample situation wherein police officers must
of these is the institution of the Community have to intervene although their action is not
Oriented Policing System or COPS, the backed by any specific law or ordinance.
Integrated Patrol System (IPS) and the Patrol
Sometimes on patrol, while performing
117.
a mediator’s role in a family squabble, the
The Role of Police Patrol responding officers may subsequently take
police actions if:
The primary law enforcement body of
the state is the police. The basic police mission a. the family dispute involves a felony;
— preserving order by enforcing rules of
conduct or laws — was the same in the ancient b. an offense is committed in the officer’s
presence;
communities as it is today in sophisticated and
highly urbanized societies. c. self-defense is necessary on the part of
the police officer.
Police, the first component of the
Criminal Justice System in the Philippine setting Why is it that the citizens usually call
is responsible in performing these fundamental first the police when a social problem occurs?
functions.
Traditionally speaking, these are the
1. Prevention of crime and repression of reasons: Because the police are constantly
criminal activities available when needed; dependable when
called upon; and capable of providing advice to
2. Preservation of peace and order
decide or settle interpersonal conflicts. Thus,
3. Protection of life and property there are two broad duties of police officers
while on patrol
4. Enforcement of laws and ordinances
and regulation of non-criminal conduct 1. Provide public protection through:

5. Investigation of crimes  Preventive Enforcement – progressive

and continuous patrolling
6. Apprehension of criminals
 Selective Enforcement –research and
7. Safeguarding of citizens’ rights and investigation
public morals

On Law Enforcement, it embraces crime

prevention and crime control, including 2. Render social services
customary police functions. On the other hand,
 information services
 police escort Patrol is the backbone of the police
department. The proof to this statement is that
 assisting other agencies patrol force is the only division in the police
 serving court notices (warrants) organization that cannot be eliminated. This is
usually true in small police organization since it
Patrol and Police Discretion cannot afford to create divisions such as Traffic,
Investigation, Juvenile and other specialized
In police matters, discretion simply
areas.
refers to the wise use of one’s judgment based
on personal experience and common sense to While small police departments grow to
decide a particular situation. Discretion may keep up with the increasing population,
also mean the freedom to decide: the freedom expanding geographical boundaries, and
or authority to judge something or make a growing diversity of police jurisdiction, there is a
decision about it. need to hire uniformed and non-uniformed
police personnel to take over the clerical and
Police officers are decision-makers and
record keeping functions in order to provide
most of their decisions involve discretion. In
policemen more time for their field
hostage taking, for example: if they shoot, they
responsibilities. Specialized units such as vice
are publicly condemned. But if they hesitate,
squad, homicide section, child and women’s
even for just a second, they are dead.
desk, and others have to be created. But all the
Police officers, especially those on while, the patrol unit continues to exist as the
patrol, must develop the positive side of split- principal functional unit or “backbone” of the
second decision-making. When a patrol officer police department
confronts a situation, he must immediately
What is the importance of Police Patrol?
decide - that his decision must not only be on
time but at its best. It is ironic that an officer on Obviously, the patrol force is
patrol makes more decisions and exercise indispensable unit in every police organization.
broader discretion regarding the people’s life The following are the specific points that justify
everyday than a judge who normally decides the importance of Police patrol:
one or two cases in one day. Note further that
no law, no book, no lawyer, no judge can 1. Patrol is the essence of police
instruct a policeman on the beat regarding the operations.
proper exercise of discretion. 2. The patrol group is the single largest
unit in the police organization.

3. Actions taken by the patrol officer have

the most direct impact on the citizen’s
satisfaction and on the accomplishment of
police goals and objectives.
The Nature of Police Patrol
4. Patrol operation is the most visible form Police departments sometime gain
of activity that enhances the welfare and reputation of efficiency and effectiveness based
security of the community. on their vigilance in dealing with criminal
offenses and the establishment of a high state
5. Individual patrol officers represent the visibility in the community. Criminals usually
police department in its contact with the plan their legal illegal ventures in areas where
community. police are known to be lax and inefficient.
6. Individual patrol officers play a major Hence, they purposely avoid communities
role in determining the quality of justice in a whereby the police have established reputation
given community. Errors made by patrolmen of being extremely vigilant and aggressive in
have significant negative effect in the public’s deterring crimes.
perception and on the other components of the In order to realize the above-
CJS. enumerated functions, the patrol unit has to
7. The patrol officer is the most important perform the following activities:
human element of the police organization since 1. Routine Patrol and Observation
all police field operations are supported by the
patrol activity. 2. Benevolent and community services –
“called-for” services, inspection services
What are the patrol functions?
3. Control of public rallies – preventive
Based on Section 1 of Rule II of the attendance & maintenance of order, responding
original Police Manual, the patrol force has the to emergency calls
primary responsibility of safeguarding the
community. This can be done through the: 4. Attending to criminal and civil
complaints
1. Protection of persons and property
5. Conduct preliminary investigation
2. Preservation of peace and order
6. Animal control, traffic direction and
3. Prevention of crime control
4. Suppression of criminal activities 7. Business and property security
5. Apprehension of criminals 8. Collection and preservation of evidence
6. Enforcement of laws and ordinances 9. Arrest of offenders
7. Regulation of criminal conduct 10. Preparation of reports and testifying in
8. Performing necessary services and court
inspections
What is the Concept of Crime Prevention and Manning Level of Patrol Force
Crime Suppression?
One basis of the effectiveness and
Theoretically, crime prevention involves efficiency of the patrol force is the manning
the suppression of the desire of potential level or manpower of the police organization.
criminals to commit crimes. On the other hand, The patrol unit must get the most number of
crime suppression involves the elimination of uniformed personnel. The “rule of thumb”
the opportunity of criminals to perform acts regarding the manning level of any police
against the law. department must be observed.

In reality, crime prevention and crime In the Philippine setting, the rule
suppression are activities that patrol officers do regarding the manning level of the police is
not bother to distinguish. When they are provided under section 27 of Republic Act #
deployed at the streets, patrol officers have no 6975. The standard manning level is 1:500 (1
time to ponder if what they do is under crime police officer for every 500 residents). However,
prevention or crime suppression. in extreme conditions, this manning level maybe
stretched to maximum, which is 1:1000 (1
Police Personnel Distribution police officer for every 1,000 resident).
The patrol force is an organization PATROL THEORIES AND PATROL METHODS
within an organization. The patrol force is the
nucleus (focal unit) of the department about A. Fundamental Theories of Patrol
which the special services are grouped, and
1. Theory of Police Omnipresence - High
therefore, it shall not be subordinated to any
other police unit in the police department. The police visibility discourages criminals. Normally,
criminals think twice before executing their
operational heart of a police organization is the
patrol force to which other departmental plans if there is obvious presence of police
officers. Thus, patrol activity should be carried
divisions relate in a supportive role. In ordinary
police stations, the suggested distribution of in a manner that attracts maximum attention to
the police officer or police vehicles. This theory
police functions is as follows:
applies the principle of overt operation or high
Police Activity Percentage police visibility.

1. Patrol Functions 50% 2. Low Profile Theory - Low police

visibility increases the opportunity to
2. Criminal Investigation 15% apprehend criminals. Deceptive absence of the
3. Traffic Functions 10% police officers will let criminals believe that they
will not be detected or caught if they execute
4. Vice & Juvenile Related Functions 10% crimes that they planned. In this theory, the
objective is to attract as little attention as
5. Administrative Functions 10%
possible while on the process of patrolling. The
6. Auxiliary Functions 5% officers should operate in a manner that it
would be difficult for either criminals or the
public to determine that police are around. The
principle of covert operation is integrated in this
theory.
3. Specialized Patrol Methods
A smart patrol officer should use both
a. Horse (mounted) Patrol
approaches depending on the circumstances of
a situation. He can make his presence obvious in b. Marine (water) Patrol
a high-crime area to deter criminals by
conducting slow motor patrol. In another c. Canine (K-9) Assisted Patrol
situation, he may conceal himself and test the
d. Special Terrain Patrol
presence of criminals around an area.
FOOT PATROL
The most important role of a patrol
officer is to serve as the police organization’s Foot patrol is restricted to small areas
actual field contact with the people. Thus, the and is used to deal with special situations while
word PATROL is an acronym of: maintaining radio contact with officers in patrol
cars. Foot patrol is used to secure 2 types of
P – oliceman; A – ssigned; T – o; R – estore; O –
police geographical units:
rder in the ; L – ocality
1. Post – a fixed position or location where
B. Patrol Methods
an officer is assigned for guard duty
Patrol methods are various means of
2. Beat – the smallest area specifically
getting from one place to another within a
assigned for patrol purposes
specified patrol jurisdiction. Various methods of
patrol are not intended to isolate the patrol Types of Foot Patrol
officer from the people he vowed to serve and
protect. 1. Fixed foot patrol is usually used for
traffic, surveillance, parades, and special events.
Patrol effort made by the police may be
in the form of any or combination of the 2. Mobile foot patrol is used where there
following: is considerable foot movement such as
patrolling business and shopping centers, high
1. Beat Patrol crime areas, and in places where there are
many or multiple family dwellings.
a. Foot Patrol
a. Line beat patrol is used in securing a
b. Bicycle Patrol
certain portion of a road or street.
2. Sector Patrol (Motorized Patrol)
b. Random foot patrol is used in checking
a. Automobile Patrol residential buildings, business establishments,
dark alleys, and parking lots.
b. Motorcycle Patrol

c. Aircraft Patrol (Helicopter and Fixed

Wing)
 What are the basic techniques and  Higher police visibility, which is effective
procedures of Foot Patrol? in crime prevention.

1. Do not establish a set of pattern of 5. Walk near buildings during night patrol.
patrolling procedure.
 Check the window glass of street level
 If you patrol your beat along certain stores or offices for cracks or broken glass.
streets and make regular stops at specific times
and locations, criminals will learn your habits  Avoid looking backwards, unless
necessary. Use the reflection in store windows
and take steps to avoid you.
to see your back.
 Turn corners as often as possible to
 Move discreetly to avoid tipping off
avoid being followed.
burglars or muggers.
 Refrain from taking meal or coffee
 Pause frequently in shadows to observe
breaks at the same time and place during your
shift. without being seen.

 Use convenient light to check doors in

 Reverse the direction of your patrol
route, often and at random. case of forcible entry.

6. Do not immediately open the door

 Cut through lanes and alleys.
when intending to get inside. Observe and
2. Walk systematically (with purpose) on evaluate first the situation.
the beat while on patrol.
7. Check the interiors of buildings and
 Pause often during your patrol and look rattle doorknobs to ensure that premises are
around you. secure.

 If you are not paying attention to your 8. Watch for persons loitering or hiding in
surroundings, you are not patrolling but you’re doorways, either ingress or egress.
strolling.
9. Use fire escapes to inspect building
3. Do not smoke nor drink while on patrol rooftops once in a while.
during night or day shift.
10. Be attentive or on alert for the sound of
4. Walk near the curb during daylight. This breaking glass or any unusual noise that may be
technique offers: caused by criminal activity.

 a better view for observing street Advantages of Foot Patrol

activity;
1. Greater personal contact with the
 less chance of obstruction by public leading to increased community support
pedestrians on the sidewalk if you are required for the police. Police becomes closer to the
to take quick action; and community residents.
2. Greater opportunity to develop sources operation agree that it is the most cost-effective
of information. method of patrol.

3. High police visibility. Regular police Features of State-of-the-Art Patrol Cars

presence discourages criminals and provides
greater sense of security to storekeepers, 1. Reflecting pressure-sensitive film
covering rather than mere paint
females, and elderly persons.

4. Places not accessible by motor vehicles 2. Vehicle-mounted TV – high-resolution

video camera with wide-angle lens
are reached and patrolled. Patrol officers can
enter small alleys and side streets. 3. MDT – mobile data terminal – computer
that allow officers in patrol car to access files
5. Easier detection of criminal activities.
Foot patrol provides closer observation of the from Headquarters (HQ) and other Law
environment and the circumstances that may Enforcement agencies
require immediate police attention. 4. HELP - high-intensity emergency lighting
plan – heavy duty light than can provide 2
6. Easy discovery and familiarization on
the layout of the beat. In-depth knowledge of million candle power of lighting
the character and problems of the patrol area. 14. Check the occupants of vehicles that
Disadvantages of Foot Patrol stop beside and behind you at intersections.

15. Regularly check parking lots for

1. Low mobility resulting to limited
coverage of the patrol area. abandoned stolen vehicles.

16. In stopping and checking a vehicle, park

2. Low response time to telephone
complaints. at the rear side of the suspect vehicle. Leave the
door slightly open unless the area is highly
3. Foot patrol method involves a large populated.
number of personnel, since officers are assigned
17. Do not leave the key in the patrol car
on small areas of jurisdiction called posts and
beats. especially if the place is in a high-crime or
congested area.
AUTOMOBILE PATROL
Advantages of Automobile Patrol
The patrol car is the most extensively
1. High mobility allowing coverage of
used and the most effective means of
transportation for police on patrol. Equipped greater area.
with state-of-the-art police gear, patrol cars 2. Quicker response time to complaints.
today provide a rapid, safe, and efficient means Greater efficiency in responding to emergency
of transportation under average operating calls and other called-for services
conditions. Automobile patrol has the greatest
mobility and flexibility. Most experts on patrol 3. More economical as compared to foot
patrol.
4. Enable more effective street pursuit of 2. Mistake made by one officer may be
offenders. noticed and immediately corrected by his
partner
5. Enable more effective traffic
enforcement. 3. Each officer could get rest and thus
perform more effectively since each does not
6. Provide an element of surprise, have to drive for full 8 hours of duty
especially when crime is in progress.
4. Beneficial since two pairs of eyes are
7. Provide the officers with necessary better than one.
protection during inclement weather.
5. One could operate the radio while the
8. Enable officers to carry supplementary other one drives.
equipment essential in patrolling.
6. Sleeping on duty could be avoided
Disadvantages of Automolbile Patrol especially for the one who is driving since he
1. Diminished personal contact with the has a companion who keeps him awake
public. BICYCLE PATROL
2. Little opportunity to develop sources of Bicycle patrol is growing in popularity
information. because of easy operation and its acceptance by
3. Marked police vehicle hampers the public, particularly children who view them
apprehension and surveillance operations. as a non-threatening form of patrol. Bicycles are
now used in many countries as a simple and
Advantages of One Man Automobile Patrol inexpensive means of silent transportation to
carry police officers throughout their patrol
1. Preventive enforcement is doubled by
district. Often, bicycles are used in parks and on
having twice as many police cars on the street
beaches and have many of the same advantages
2. An officer who is alone devotes his full and disadvantages as motorcycles.
attention to driving and beat observation rather
Advantages of Bicycle Patrol
than conversing with his partner
1. Lower-cost (inexpensive) to operate as
3. Personality clashes are reduced and/or
compared to motorcycle and automobiles
avoided
2. Areas not accessible by patrol cars or
4. Promotes self-reliance and self-
are too wide for foot patrol can be covered by
confidence.
bicycle
Advantages of Two Man Automobile Patrol
3. Increased mobility and stealth since
1. Provides officers with greater safety by bicycle can be operated quietly and without
doubling the firepower and physical protection attracting too much attention. In Seattle,
Washington, for, example, bicycle officers use
bikes to whip around corners and surprise drug
dealers. This type of patrol provides the Thus, in motorcycle patrol, proper
maximum stealth and mobility to patrol officers. protective clothing and helmets are a must. A
motorcycle also offers the patrol officer much
4. Found to be highly effective in less protection than a squad car should a person
combating theft, vandalism in residential areas, in a vehicle being pursued decides to start
parks, shopping malls, etc. The Seattle City’s 20 shooting. Nonetheless, the ability of
bicycle officers have averaged five times the motorcycles to maneuver through traffic and
number of arrests made by foot patrols in the their ability to access areas, which squad cars
downtown area. cannot, make them valuable patrol vehicles.
5. Effectively used by plainclothesmen for A number of American police agencies
surveillance in high crime areas wherein officers continue to use two wheel and three wheel
wearing nondescript clothes could blend with motorcycles, especially for traffic control and
the apparels worn by the criminals special occasions, such as parades and escort
Like motorcycles, bicycles leave the duty. In general, however, the use of the two
patrol officer extremely vulnerable. Officers wheeled motorcycle patrol had decreased in
should have the proper safety equipment and recent years for several important reasons.
follow all basic safety practices while on bicycle Departments that have used solo, or two
patrol. wheels, motorcycles, have found them to be:

MOTORCYCLE PATROL a. costly to operate,

Most police departments have their b. hazardous to the driver, and

motorcycles marked with the same insignia as c. inoperative during inclement weather
their patrol cars. Motorcycles are beginning to when the police should be most active in the
be a favorite of patrol officers because of the enforcement of traffic regulations or readily
ease and speed of moving around. Motorcycle available for special escort duties.
patrol has many of the same advantages as
automobile patrol, especially in speed and d. Additionally, the solo motorcycle is
maneuverability. Motorcycles have greater tiring for the driver and has no capacity to
access than automobiles to some areas and are transport prisoners, other personnel, or
better suited to heavy traffic, narrow alleys and equipment.
rugged terrain.
However the three wheel motorcycle:
Disadvantages of Motorcycle Patrol
a. can be operated regardless of road
1. relatively high cost to operate conditions

2. limited use in bad weather b. is far less hazardous, less tiring to drive,

3. inability to carry additional equipment c. has transportation capabilities. In

or officers essence, the three wheel motorcycle has most
of the advantages of the solo motorcycle and
4. the danger involved in riding them
d. greater maneuverability in dense traffic CANINE (K-9) ASSISTED PATROL (Dog Patrol)
than the automobile.
As earlier mentioned, the Egyptians
HORSE PATROL (Mounted Patrol) were the first to use dogs in patrolling. In the
US, dogs have been used in police patrol since
Mounted patrol is decreasing in the US 1900. In April 1957, Baltimore was the only
but is still used in some large cities for crowd American police force that used trained dog
and traffic control. Mounted officers are usually handler teams on patrol. As of April 1968, about
more acceptable than K-9s as crowd control 200 police agencies used a total of 500 man dog
instruments. Expense is one of the main teams in police patrol work.
advantages of mounted patrol. The greatest
advantage is that an officer on horseback is Police dogs are especially useful in high
much more effective at controlling a disorderly crime areas, in dangerous search situations, in
crowd than one on foot or in any kind of vehicle dealing with street gangs, in dispersing a crowd,
(other than a tank). Mounted officers can see up in taking fleeing suspects into custody, in
to three blocks away and cover more territory guarding suspects, in searching alleys, parks,
than officers on patrol. schools, and other large building. A most recent
use of police dogs is in the search and detection
Horses are useful in patrolling of drugs in packages or on suspects. The K-9
jurisdiction that covers large park areas or assisted patrol is becoming more popular, with
similar places where automobiles cannot go or even smaller departments beginning to
may be forbidden. Mobile patrol cars cannot be establish K-9 units. According to James C.
expected to race on grassy fields or wooded Spurlock in his article “K-9” in Law and Order
areas but horses can. issue of March 1990: “Along with mainframes
Mounted patrol is also valuable in and microchips, the small-to-medium-sized
search-and-rescue efforts in rural and police department shopping for the latest in
wilderness areas. Officers on horses have been cost-effective high-tech law enforcement might
called upon to: want to consider the four-legged, cold-noised
variety”
1. assist in evidence searches at crime
scenes A K-9 corps is essential for most
medium size and large police departments but
2. round up straying cattle after a truck careful planning and research must first be
has tipped over completed to determine the specific numbers
and need for police dogs. Dogs must be housed,
3. search for lost children in tall corn or
transported then trained. Their handlers must
grass where men on foot would be ineffective.
be carefully selected and trained.

2. One or two officers are enough to

Uses of Dogs or K-9s in police operations
operate while increasing maneuverability and
speed.
1. Provide great assistance in search and 1. German Shepherds – the most
rescue as well as in smelling out drugs and frequently used and highest-scoring dog for
bombs. police work

2. Provide protection for 1-officer patrol. 2. Black Labrador retrievers

Officer/s assigned to a high-crime area has little
3. Giant Schnauzers
to fear with a well-trained canine at their side.

3. Great value in crowd control since: 4. Rottweilers

5. Doberman pinschers
a. properly trained dogs are virtually
fearless; and 6. Bouviers
b. totally loyal to their handlers have a 7. Newfoundlands
significant psychological effect on would-be
trouble makers 8. Airedale terriers

4. Extensively used in international 9. Alaskan malamutes

airports to detect narcotics and bombs because
Disadvantages of using K-9
of their keen sense of smell. A dog is capable of
recognizing an odor 10 million times better than 1. Most police dogs work with only one
a human can. handler.
5. Specially trained dogs are extremely 2. K-9, like most dogs, is territorial, and its
effective in finding bodies – dead or alive, just handler and its K-9 cruiser are part of its
buried or buried for years. territory.
6. Locating trapped people during 3. Dog training is expensive. Dog training
emergencies. usually takes 10 to 12 weeks.
7. Can be an asset to public relations 4. Police department that initiates a K9
efforts. section is vulnerable to law suits.
8. Well-trained police dogs can be used for PATROL: WORKING THE STREET
demonstrations in public affairs, schools, or
parades. Preparation for Duty – The patrol officers’ job
starts even before they are in their respective
area of responsibility (AOR) because they need
to prepare the following that are necessary in
the performance of their routines:

Equipment check
What breeds of working dogs are best suited
 Police uniform
for police works?
 Weapons  During your own tour of duty, a prisoner
might try the same maneuver. If you haven’t
 Watch checked the vehicle, any evidence you recover
 Money, including change for pay might be ruled inadmissible in court; you would
telephones be unable to swear that the vehicle was empty
before the suspect entered it.
 Flashlight, spare battery and bulbs
 Record the condition of your vehicle’s
 Notebook with ample supply of blank interior in your notebook for possible latter use
paper as evidence.

 Forms re reports, traffic violations, etc.  Check your vehicle’s siren, roof light,
radio and other equipment to ensure that they
 Current list of stolen and wanted
are in proper working order. Note any damage
vehicles
or mechanical problems.
 Portable radio and other equipment as
PATROL CONCEPTS
required
The following are simple but vital questions in
Information Check – Prior to actual patrolling,
the management of a patrol unit in your own
the police officers should:
department or in any police department:
 Secure and review descriptions of
What is reactive Patrol?
missing and wanted persons.
It is the old system of police patrol activity
 Arrange any follow-up work from
which consists of continuously driving around
previous shifts.
the area of patrol waiting for something to
 Check with the officer being relieved for happen and to react accordingly in case
any problems requiring your attention during something does happen.
the shift.
What is proactive Patrol?
 Check patrol area log for problem areas
It is the more economical alternative patrol
requiring extra surveillance.
system, which has an objective approach
Vehicle Check – In case of patrol officers against criminality as much as practicable. It
assigned on mobile cars (prowl cars), they addresses crime at its very root before it is able
should: to develop into a felonious act.

 Check the inside of your patrol car,

paying particular attention to the rear seat.

 A prisoner may have hidden a weapon

What is participative law enforcement?
or evidence in the vehicle during the previous
shift. It is a system where the citizenry and
the police work together to reduce crime,
prevent juvenile delinquency and criminal scene; enforces the law; and restores peace and
behavior, maintain the peace and reduce local order.
problems which are the mutual responsibility of
What are the objectives of the police at
the police and the people.
the scene of unlawful assemblies?
What is the difference between
The objectives of the police at the scene
prevention and repression of criminal and
delinquent behavior? of unlawful assemblies like riot (these are
discussed in Chapter 4 – Crowd Control and Riot
Prevention is the objective aimed Prevention): Containment; Dispersal; Prevention
towards ways and means to reduce the desire of of reentry or entry; Arrest of law violators; and
the human being to commit crime. Repression, Establish priorities.
on the other hand is the act of preventing the
State the essential steps that must be
actual commission of crimes. Repression is
leveled on the prevention of the very act itself taken by the police during a disaster response.
which constitutes crimes. 1. Assess the nature and extend of the
What is the purpose of the District Orientation disaster or calamity.
Tour in preparing for patrol? 2. Communicate information in the fastest
means available.

3. Administer urgently needed first aid and

Its purpose is to familiarize and orient a
policeman about the patterns and rescue activities.
characteristics of his patrol area before he 4. Establish a command post.
conducts actual patrol.
5. Contain the area.

6. Maintain open emergency

What is police surveillance? lanes/streets.

7. Evacuate survivors and people from

It is the process of keeping under observation a danger area.
person; a place or an object to obtain 8. Provide public information services.
information material to the solution of a case. It
is also use to detect some forms of criminal 9. Establish coordination with other
behaviors. government agencies.

10. Provide access area for authorities.

What is the purpose of the police at the 11. Record the events.
scene of civil disturbance?
Why participation of patrol in vice control
During civil disturbances, the police: necessary?
protects lives and properties of everyone at the
 Patrol participation in vice control is  Vehicular accidents in which there are
necessary in order to lessen the force needed in no physical injuries.
the vice-division; to increase its efficiency; to
 Prowler complaints.
conserve time and energy of its members; and
to focus its attention to the more serious vice  Lost children complaints.
violations.
 Report of mob activities.
What are different types of calls response by
the police patrol?  Reports of domestic or tenant-landlord
or neighbor conflicts.
ROUTINE CALL – Under this category, the
mobile car is required to observe all traffic laws EMERGENCY CALL – In most cases, this category
and rules and does not normally use its flashing requires the use of the flashing light and
lights and siren while on its way to the scene. fluctuating siren although there are exceptions
This includes when the police responds to: which include the attempt to surprise criminals
in the act. It is permissible in this case for the
 Provide police car transportation. responding police car to violate traffic laws
 Obtain reports about offenses provided that extreme care is exercised while
driving at high speed. This includes when the
discovered after the criminal has left and which
does not involve injury. police responds to:

 Investigate a crime in progress.

 Obtain information the nature of which
is not given.  Investigate a traffic accident in which
people are injured.
 Investigate apparently abandoned
vehicles.  Rescue or assist another patroller in
trouble.
 Obtain damage reports.

 Provide additional traffic control and  Aids an injured person.

direction.  Pursue or apprehend suspected
URGENT CALL – This is similar to the routine criminal/s.
call, which also requires the responding police  Assist in firefighting.
car to observe all traffic rules and does not use
its flashing lights or siren. However, it proceeds  Stop an ongoing fight in progress.
directly to its destination and does not stop
unless an incident of far more serious nature
occurs. This includes when the police responds What is the General Objective of Patrol
to investigate: Activity?
 Trouble of unknown nature. The general objective of patrol activity
is to prevent the commission of crime by
 Shoplifter complaint.
destroying the opportunity of potential c. Wearing expensive jewelries in slum
offenders thru constant and alert patrolling. area

With these, patrol officers should have a d. Readily admitting a stranger to one’s
detailed understanding of the anatomy of crime residence and the like.
or what makes up a criminal act. The anatomy
Further, once crime took place, it can be
of crime states that: crime takes place if the
three (3) elements or ingredients are present at further explained by using the interaction of
these three (3) factors: Criminal Tendency, Total
the same time and place which are:
Instrumentalities, Motive and Opportunity. To Situation, and Resistance to temptation.
Criminal tendency is innate to every human
explain further:
being. Total situation speaks of the
1. Instrumentality – the means or environmental circumstances. Resistance to
instrument used in the commission of crime temptation could also be innate to a person
such as: firearm; fan knife; poison (or any which could be attributed to his cultural and
obnoxious substance); Hammer; motor vehicle; educational upbringing.
a document, etc.
What is a Freak Crime Accident?
2. Motive – the reason or cause why a
person or group of persons will perpetrate a There are situations when all the three
elements of the crime are present and merged
crime or the purpose or aim of doing
something. Examples are: economic gain; at the same time and the same place; however
the victim is not the intended one due to error
jealousy; covetousness/greediness; revenge;
gratify desire; and win a competition. in persona (mistaken identity). This is called a
freak crime accident. Similarly, the public still
3. Opportunity – It refers to the chance or need to be protected against these kinds of
twist of fate; consist of the acts (whether by crimes.
omission or commission) by a person (the
victim) that enables another person or group of
persons (the offenders) to perpetrate the crime.
Opportunity is synonyms with carelessness, acts
of indiscretion, and lack of crime prevention or
lack of consciousness on the part of the victim.
Illustrative examples are:

Operational Guidelines for the conduct of

a. Leaving ones’ home or car unattended
Patrol
for a long time
The following are the guidelines
b. Walking all alone in a well-known crime
normally observed by the PNP in the conduct of
prone alley
patrolling not necessary under the IPS:
1. Pre-patrol (Pre-deployment phase) e. Recall of equipment issued

a. Fall-in- information in ranks f. Dismissal by the PC

b. Roll-call- accounting of patrol elements After which, the patrol commander

by the patrol commander (PC) collects the DPR and submits it to the HQ for
consolidation and reference.
c. Inspection of uniform, appearance &
equipment by the PC C. Auxiliary Components - In the
Philippines, the police are the members of the
d. TI & E (Troop Information and PNP with two (2) statutory characteristics -
Education) and dissemination of National in scope and Civilian in character
instructions/orders by PC

e. Reading of assignment of PBs by

Sarhento de Mesa or field duty officer (FDO)

f. Issuance of equipment to POs (Patrol

Officers) and PTs (Patrol Teams)

g. Report to higher headquarters (HQ) by

FDO

2. Deployment Phase:

a. Report to SD by the POs (Patrollers)

b. POs make patrol plan and follow patrol

procedures

c. Adopt the buddy-buddy system

d. Make situation report on an hourly

basis or upon reaching the end of their line beat

e. Report and/or record in the PSR (patrol

sheet report) all unusual incidents.

3. Post-Patrol (Post-deployment Phase):

a. Regrouping and formation

b. Accounting

c. Inspection

d. Debriefing/submission of DPR (daily

patrol report)