Patrol:

The job of a patrol deputy consists of many jobs within the job.  You should be constantly observing your surroundings.  This takes a conscience effort to train yourself to do this.  Know that most people cannot draw their watch without looking at it although this is something that they look at every day.  The mental notes of the details are not retained in memory because they were never consciously observed.  To do this, effort has to be made to view what is going on.  For example:           Passing a car wash at night and observing a vehicle present is different than observing a red in color four-door Jeep in the second bay at 0220 hrs.

Steps to deter and prevent crime should always be made.  This is done by making yourself visible.  Crime does not only happen in “high crime” areas.  Low crime areas are targets due to vulnerability and the sense that “nothing happens here”.  This mindset creates an atmosphere for criminals to prey on a naïve society.

Patrol Duties:

Responding to calls for service:       These may be emergency or non-emergency calls.  Regardless of the situation, the complainant found it important enough to need help and has reached out to the Sheriff’s Office for that help.  Barking dogs, knocked over trash cans, loud music, and arguments between six-year-olds are not beyond the scope of problems we attempt to resolve.  Civil situations are a common occurrence as well.  Naturally, we prefer calls to be of a more serious nature.  Remaining professional, regardless of the nature of the call is paramount.  This may be the only dealing with law enforcement the complainant may have in his/her lifetime.  You want to leave a good impression.  A good rule of thumb is to treat the complainant like you would want someone to treat your grandmother.

Apprehending criminal offenders: This may be done due to your own viewing of an offence, a victim/complainant’s statement, or previously issued warrants.

Preventing criminal acts:     Observing stores near closing times, patrols of any area businesses to prevent robberies (when they are open) or burglaries (when they are closed), residential burglaries (generally occur during the daytime while the resident is at work), vehicle burglaries (generally occur during the nighttime and when doors to the vehicle are not locked).  Thefts are not specific to any particular time frame and are often a crime of opportunity.

Proactive Patrol:       Driving through your area and making conscience observations may assist in investigating criminal activity that is discovered later.  For example:          You notice a vehicle parked in front of the Village Market store at 0130 hrs.  You do not see anyone around and know the store closed at 2100 hrs.  You check the vehicle and find the hood to be warm.  You run the license plate and lot it “107” through dispatch.  The following day, several vehicles are burglarized on East Hillside Dr., West Hillside Dr., and Southwood Village Ave.  The “107” vehicle will be a starting point for investigating the nearby vehicle burglaries.

Traffic Stops: Tactics for traffic stops as a whole is covered in another topic.  They serve numerous purposes as it deals with the immediate traffic violation in hopes to deter future driving infractions.  Outside of the traffic stop, people passing by will see your emergency lights that could potentially deter a suspect from going out and committing a crime in fear of also being stopped.

Traffic control, changing flat tires, speaking with troubled teens, suicidal subjects, giving directions, domestic situations, clearing a roadway, public safety, and an array of other duties encompasses patrol.

DOR