1

POLICE PATROL OPERATIONS WITH

COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM

By

PROF. OSCAR G. SORIANO, RCrim

BSCrim., MSBA, MACrim., PhDCrim., DPA, DEM
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PART

INTRODUCTION TO POLICE PATROL

===============================================
The often said statement that patrol function is
the “backbone of the police organization,” is very true
because it is the only line functions that cannot be
eliminated. The great majority of police stations in
the country are so small that they do not have nor
could justify, separate line functions for traffic,
investigation, juveniles and others specialized areas.
Their size and caseloads requires that all duties be
handled by police patrol, aside from maintaining police
visibility, especially in crime prone areas.

History of Police Patrol

The history of police patrol is as old as

organized society. Human beings have always needed
protection, first from animals, and then from his own
kind. Their first attempts to protect themselves
involved barricading the entrance to his cave. Then as
mankind multiplied, they grouped together in small
communities and protection developed into community
affair. As the communities enlarged, so did the need
for developing a specialized group or agency to handle
protection and police service.

The word “police” originated from the Greek word

“politeia,” meaning government of a city. It applies to
civil officers and not necessarily policemen. The Roman
changed the word slightly to “politia.” The French
changed the word to “police” and applied it to those
persons who actually enforced the law. The English and
other foreign countries barrowed the word intact from
the French and used it to described a law enforcement
officer. The word “cop,” is commonly used to describe a
police officer.
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In England they used the word “copper.” It is more

likely that it is originated from the European word
“cop,” meaning to catch or to seize. Although the words
themselves could be traced back further, it is
interesting to note that it was the French who gave
them to us in their law enforcement context. Not only
did we get the word “constable” from the French, but
the word “patrol” as well. Patrol is from the French
“patroullier,” meaning to go through puddles. Even
today with our highly mechanized patrol functions, the
definition is one that very apt.

Basic Purpose of Police Patrol

The basic purpose of police patrol is to eliminate
the actual opportunity for misconduct by the criminal
elements of society. Although a thief’s desire to steal
is not diminished by the physical presence of patrol
officer, the belief that the criminal action will be
successful is reduced in proportion to the number of
police patrols the thief observes in and around the
target area. A criminals’ belief that they are likely
to be caught in the act is deterrent to any involvement
in criminal activity.

Truly the purposes of police patrol are many and

varied. Their role as public servant—either in
eliminating the opportunity for criminal is one of the
most important undertakings of the patrol officers. The
role of the patrol officers as a professional law
enforcer is vital to the community. The ways in which
they accept this responsibility and carry out its vital
functions ultimately determine how effective the police
mission is performed.

Goals and Objectives of Police Patrol

Defined goals and objectives are essential for

police patrol, if they are to provide effective public
service and maintain good public relations. Generally,
the goals and objectives of the police patrol consist
of the following:
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1. Crime Prevention

The detection, suppression, and prevention of

crime had been traditionally accepted as one of the
primary goals of the patrol force. Some authorities
have even defined crime control as the “core mission”
of the police. Unfortunately, police performance is
often judged on the basis of the incidence of crime in
the community.

2. Criminal Apprehension

When crime occurs despite of the best efforts of

the police to prevent them, it then becomes a police
responsibility to identify, locate, and apprehend the
person(s) responsible. In some instances, a patrol
officer may be present when the crime occurs and may be
able to apprehend the criminal at the scene of the
crime, or soon after the crime has been committed.

3. Law Enforcement

It is a basic responsibility of the police to

enforce the law. This responsibility is especially
important due to the potential impact upon the
community if laws are vigorously enforced enough, or if
they are enforced too rigidly. Conversely, police
authority may be seriously undermined if laws are
enforced in an arbitrary and prejudicial manner.

4. Order Maintenance

Maintaining social order is one of the most

troublesome responsibilities of the police. This is
due, in part, to the difficulty in defining the terms
order and also because of different ideas about how
order should be maintained. What is an accepted level
of social order in the community or neighborhood may
not be acceptable in another?

5. Traffic Enforcement

Police responsibility with regard to the

investigation of traffic accidents and the enforcement
of traffic laws creates a real dilemma for many police
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officers and local executives. Some police officers and

administrators are very traffic oriented and others
take a passive attitude toward traffic law enforcement.

6. Public Service

The public service function of the police has come

under growing scrutiny in recent years, in part because
of the increasing financial constraints placed on local
government, which have resulted in fewer resources
available to the police. Police administrators are
being asked to provide an increased level of service
with the same of declining resources.

Indispensability of Police Patrol

Patrol tagged as the “backbone” of the police
organization. This often said statement is very true
since the patrol division is the only division in the
police organization that cannot be possibly eliminated.
This is for the reason that the traditional police
organization are usually small that they could have or
can justify, separate police functions, such as traffic
enforcement, investigation, juvenile, and other
specialized areas relatively with policing activities.

Their size and caseload require that all duties

and functions shall be handled only by the police
patrol. Even police organization with specialized
functions, the police patrol is often the only one that
performs twenty-four (24) hours duty. It grows to keep
up with the increasing population, and expanding
geographical boundaries, the police executives will be
in to hire non-uniformed personnel to take over the
menial functions to free police officers for their
field responsibilities.

As the police organization continues to grow,

officers are taken out of the field to specialize in
traffic law enforcement, investigative activities, and
all other specialized functions, all the while adding
to the police patrol, replacements for the
specialists’. The patrol force continues to exist as
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the principal functional unit or “backbone” of the

police. It is also an indispensable service that plays
a leading role in the accomplishment of the police
purpose, because of the following reasons:

1. It is the only form of police service that

directly attempts to eliminate opportunity for
misconduct.

2. It is also checks the development of desire

for misconduct by destroying unwholesome stimuli, and
creating wholesome one.

3. It favorably influenced individual and group

attitudes in its routine daily association with the
public.

Important Roles of Police Patrol

When the essential character of police patrol
functions is understood, it is apparent that the police
patrol force is the “backbone” of any police
organization because of the following reasons:

1. It is the only function in the police service

that is practically without limit in responsibility;

2. Police patrol service is able to perform

other police task if there is a need for special units;

3. Police patrol branch is indispensable and

will continue to be the most important single division
of the police organization.

Showing off competent patrol personnel by

assigning them to undercover and specialized positions
will defect both, while attempts to improve the image
of the patrol force.
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PART

POLICE PATROL OPERATIONS

===============================================
The idea of uniformed officers patrolling the
streets goes back to the Roman states in 400 B.C. A
reliance on a highly visible, roaming presence of law
enforcement officers has carried out into present day
policing, and largely unchanged in many jurisdictions.
In all jurisdictions, police patrol is the most vital
component of police work.

What is Police Patrol?

It is the act of moving about on a geographical
area or beat, especially by an authorized and trained
person or group of persons, usually police officers for
purposes of observation, inspection, or security, in
maintaining peace and order and ensuring public safety,
and providing other miscellaneous police services and
activities with the community-members within particular
geographical location.

It also simply means an inspectional activity,

whether carried out on foot, mobile or otherwise. It is
simply the concept of police officers’ traveling around
a defined jurisdiction, observing the situation and
maintaining the safety and security of people and
property, and in some other way, it is geared in
“protecting and serving” the people, and the society as
well.

Spheres of Activities in Police Patrol

To be effective, modern police patrol operations
must perform these three major spheres of activity—
often simultaneously, as follows:
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1. Calls for Police Service

The public calls upon the police to handle a vast

range of incidents. All too often, the traditional
emphasis on rapid police arrival has generated a
parallel pressure on officer to handle calls as quickly
as possible and get “back in service” for the next
incident.

2. Tactical Patrol Responses

Directed patrol use accurate and time information

to predict where and when crimes are likely to be
committed; thus helping to allocate uncommitted patrol
resources rationally and effectively. They encourage
patrol officers and supervisors to develop activities
tailored to the problem.

3. Strategic Problem Solving

The patrol officers must engage in strategic

problems solving-solving efforts with the community.
These must occur when other stakeholders are available
to meet and work with the police—and when the police
officers themselves are not swamped by calls requiring
immediate response.

Miscellaneous Activities in Police Patrol

There are also varied miscellaneous activities of

police patrol which are briefly discussed, as follows:

1. Patrol and Observation

Patrol diminished the potential offender’s belief

in the existence of an opportunity to successfully
violate the law. The patrol officer must be constantly
alert, while moving about his beat, for conditions and
things which may facilitate or promote the commission
of crimes and other incidents that require police
service. Observation in the function that most
completely describes the patrol officer’s jobs and most
of his duties depends on what he has observed.
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2. Control of Public Gatherings

The patrol officer is frequently assigned to

public meeting and assemblies, he may be sent to a
regularly scheduled meeting, to maintain order at the
entrances and exits of the building, and to quell
disturbances which may occur, or he may be called upon
to handle a spontaneous gathering of citizens which was
assembled on the street or another public places for
some particular purpose. Control of public assembly
requires technical know-how on civil disturbance
management.

3. Miscellaneous Field Service

The patrol officers perform a wide variety of

public services while on duty. Some services are
provided to citizen who called to the station or
approach the officer on the street for assistance.
However, many are initiated by the officer himself by
observing a situation that requires his attention.
Since the patrol officer’s primary duty is to prevent
crime, his first attention should be given to the
security of persons and property on his beat, thus
meeting the police motto of serving and protecting.

4. Answering Calls

The patrol officer is dispatched to every

conceivable type of emergency such as accidents of
every kind, suicides, illness, including childbirth,
fires, explosions, and other assistance and to know
what is required in particular situation. When sent to
the scene of the crime, he should arrest the
perpetrator of pursue him if apprehensions seem likely,
take care of injured persons, safeguard physical
evidences, and recover stolen properties. He is also
called upon to render a wide service.

5. Disposing of Minor Complaints

The patrol officer is called upon to serve a

variety of complaints that are non-criminal in
character or that involves minor violation, the more-
friendly that the patrol officer is with the people on
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his beat the more people likely to go with him for

advice and help when they are in trouble. In doing
this, the patrol officer need to exercise his
discretion which is most likely vested upon to agents
of persons in authority. Such exercise of discretion
must be prudent to avoid technicalities of the rules of
the laws.

6. Investigation on Patrol

The patrol officer makes any investigation. Some

relates to the complaints mentioned above; others grow
out of observation by the patrol officers on conditions
or situations on his beat that requires his attention.
The primary responsibility of the patrol officers when
responded to a reported incident is to maintain and
preserve the original condition of the crime scene when
it was left by the perpetrator. In addition to this, he
is also required to conduct preliminary investigation
of the case.

7. Preservation of Physical Evidence

Evidence which may be tampered with curious

onlookers or removed and destroyed by the companions or
friend of the violators must be preserved as nearly as
possible on the condition in which found. The volume of
evidence destroyed by carelessness of policeman in many
police organizations is falling. To allow essential
evidence to be alerted or carried away by an
unauthorized person might cause the failure of a case
against the person charged. This requires protecting
and securing the crime scene.

8. Arrest of Offenders

If the patrol officers observe the commission of a

crime, he may be able to arrest the offender at once.
In fact, this is his primary duty when he is called to
scene of a crime. Where he is the first officer to
arrive, there may be indication that the trail of the
criminal is hot and immediate pursuit is maybe a
logical move. In order to carry out this function, he
must be aware of the strategy of arrest where
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resistance or escape is likely, and he must be able to

repel physical assault with a deadly weapon.

9. Preparation of Reports

In order that the patrol officers’ observation and

investigation activities are to be the most productive
it must be documented and supported by complete and
carefully prepared reports. Throughout this volume,
the value of accurate and up-to-date records and
statistical information of police activities has been
stressed. Since the patrol officer is the primary
contact man of the police organization, it is up to him
to provide, the bulk of the raw data from which
adequate records can be prepared.

10. Testifying in Court

Patrol officer are often called upon to witnesses

in criminal case. Sometimes, the patrol officer is
only witness to the commission of a crime, or he may
have secured important evidence. Therefore, the patrol
officer must develop a habit of jotting down all the
essential elements of information relatively with the
case investigated in his tickler. Tickler serves as
valuable tool in refreshing the patrol officer’s memory
when required to testify in court. Court demeanor is
likewise expected from among them.

Categories of Police Patrol

The utilization of the hereunder categories of
police patrol depend on the nature and the scope of the
problems—police patrol may be categorized, as follows:

1. General Preventive Patrol

General patrol is also referred to as preventive

patrol, random patrol and routine patrol. The term
routine patrol should not really be used, however,
because there is nothing routine about it. The
challenges of general patrol change constantly. The
patrol officer may be pursuing armed bank robbers in
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the morning and giving talk at an elementary school in

the afternoon.

2. Directed Deterrent Patrol

Directed deterrent patrol or aggressive patrol

meshes well with community-policing and focuses on
high-crime areas of specific offense types. Specific
activities that qualify as “directed patrol” include
saturation, crackdowns, field interrogation, aggressive
traffic enforcement and detection of environmental
anomalies, which are unusual activities that warrant
further investigation.

3. Targeted-Oriented Patrol

Targeted-oriented patrol strategies are those

that, as the name implies, are targeted or directed
towards specific persons, places, or events. Targeted-
oriented patrol combines the elements of high-
visibility patrol, low-visibility patrol, and directed
deterrent patrols to identity persons, places, or
events which attract of create crime problems.

Classifications of Police Patrol

Enumerated and briefly discussed hereunder are the
classifications of police patrol, as follows:

1. Reactive Patrol

This is patrol activity which consists of driving

around the districts, waiting for something to happen.
It is not very different from the stereo-type old-time
policeman who just sat around in the station while
waiting for calls. The sensibility and affordability
of this scheme is now being questioned because of
budgetary constraints and skyrocketing prices.

2. Proactive Patrol

An alternative patrol system which means the

fielding of the field units in their respective area of
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responsibility with prescribed objectives and

verifiable tasks schedule of the day to augment the
calls and other on sight activities that makes up the
patrol officers day.

Shifting in Police Patrol

Enumerated and briefly discussed hereunder is the
shifting in police patrol, as follows:

1. Morning Shift

The day shift—7:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.—is usually in

most police organizations, a shift devoted to service
activities. The people that a patrol officer meets
during their day shift are usually law abiding and
create few problems. Handling calls for service,
dealing with traffic and parking problems, and looking
into youth-related problems at the school.

2. Afternoon Shift

The afternoon shift-3:00 P.M. to 11:00 P.M.—is

usually the busiest and offers the greatest variety of
activity. Patrol officers on the afternoon shift
encounter a broad range of activities. The afternoon
shift combines the service orientations of the day
shift with the criminal-apprehension functions of the
midnight shift.

3. Midnight Shift

The midnight shift—11:00 P.M. to 7:00 A.M.—has

been called the “dog watch,” which suggests it is the
penalty box of police work. It has also been called the
“graveyard shift” to denote the lack of activity on the
shift. It is the least desirable of all patrol shifts—
for this reason the least experience patrol officers
often end up on this shift.

Types of Police Patrol

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The types of patrol refer to the various means of

getting from one place to another, are as follows:
1. Foot Patrol

Its methods consist of the fixed post, line beat,

and random patrol. Moving foot patrol is used where
there is considerable foot traffic, high crime areas
and special hazard areas and in places where there are
many multiple family dwellings. It is still widely used
type of patrol in the country because of the financial
constraints.

2. Horse Patrol

Horse may be used for certain patrol problems in

places that contain large park or similar places where
automobiles either cannot go or may be forbidden.
Mobile patrol cars cannot be expected to race scoured
fields or wooded areas, but horse provides the best
mobility in those situations. It is also valuable in
search-and-rescue efforts in rugged terrains.

3. Bicycle Patrol

The bicycle patrol has been used in many countries

as a simple and inexpensive means of silent
transportation. Bicycle may be used for routine patrol
to replace or augment foot or mobile patrol under
practical conditions. Their versatility and stealth
makes them indispensable for covering crowded areas and
places unreasonable for mobile patrol.

4. Motorcycle Patrol

Primary used for traffic control and enforcement,

their speed and maneuverability make them indispensable
police vehicle. Motorcycle patrol is better suited to
heavy traffic, narrow alleys, and rugged terrain. Their
maneuverability and speed, and its ability to access
areas the mobile patrol cannot, make them valuable
patrol vehicles.

5. Bay and River Patrol

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In some areas surrounded with water, including

inland waterways, various types of sea or water crafts
may be commissioned for police service especially where
smuggling of undocumented people becomes common. Water
patrol is the best means to effectively control
violators of water safety regulations as smugglers. It
is also valuable in rescue operations.

6. Air Patrol

Except for patrolling long sketches of highway or

expenses of inaccessible land, air patrol has very
little flexibility in congested metropolitan areas. It
is also useful for rescue and relief operations,
medical evacuations, general patrol, criminal
apprehension, crime prevention and repression,
emergency transportation, and other related activities.

7. Mobile Patrol

The mobile patrol is the most extensively used and

the most effective means of transportation. It provides
a rapid, safe, efficient means of transportation.
Because of the combined advantage of mobility and
speed, it may patrol larger in less time, and it can
also be used to transport equipment needed to process
crime scenes.

8. Fixed Surveillance

Although not a means of transportation, it must

not be overlooked as a type of patrol. Usually
accomplished either in persons with the used of
televisions cameras, monitors, stop-frame photography
or computerized CCTV cameras, which makes it possible
for the police to watch several locations at the same
time for immediate response when necessary.

9. K-9 Assisted Patrol

The K-9 assisted patrol is becoming more popular

with even smallest police organization beginning to
establish k-9 units. Dogs are of great assistance in
search and rescue as well as in smelling out dangerous
drugs and bombs. Dogs are used extensively in airports
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to detect contrabands and explosives because of their

keen sense of smell.
Preparation for Police Patrol
Police patrol duties fulfill many objectives and
purpose; thus, it requires the following preparations:

1. General Preparation

The patrol officer’s value system must be in

harmony with the objectives of law enforcement and
sense of fair play. The first and foremost in his
preparation for patrol duty is attitude preparation.
His attitude must be positive since many things around
him and so many people are so negative, that he will
most likely end up negative and depress.

2. Pre-Patrol Preparation

Prior to going out on patrol, the patrol officer

should have knowledge about their tasks each day, there
is usually a “fall-in” formation at the police station
or the police block as the case may be, which is
devoted to the giving of specific assignments, vehicle
to be used and partner, if any, break and mealtime and
patrol assignment.

3. In-Field Preparation

Whenever possible, the police officer who is to go

out on patrol should have a “debriefing” conference
with the officer who is being relieved and who had just
spent the previous tour of duty in the patrol district.
The patrol officer must be aware of the characteristics
of the beat and prepare to meet the demands of the job
ahead.

4. Orientation Tour

Once in the field, the patrol officer should take

a general familiarization and inspection tour of his
assigned district in order to orient himself of its
patterns and characteristics. By looking to this
information, the police officer begins preparing for
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the delivery of basic police service relatively with

his patrol duties and responsibilities.
PART

POLICE PATROL STRATEGIES

===============================================

Police patrol can have a direct effect on the

problem. It can also contribute to citizen awareness of
the police patrol officer’s presence and maintains a
good police image.

Strategic Objectives of Omni-Presence

The patrol officer to be seen alert and constant

patrolling so as to establish a highly visible police
presence, hence, to make his presence psychologically
be felt despite of his physical absence, hereby
creating:

1. A feeling of security on the part of the law

abiding citizen.

2. A feeling of fear on the part of the would-be

violator.

3. A feeling of confidence that the police are

constantly available to respond to any situation at a
moment’s notice.

An effective strategy in crime prevention work is

constant and alert patrolling. The patrol function, if
effectively implemented, is the most recognizable form
of police activity, furthering the community-members,
and as well as in police image perception.

Attractive Nuisances vs. Patrol Hazards

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Discussed hereunder are the distinctions between

attractive nuisances and patrol hazards, as follows:
1. Attractive Nuisances

It is known doctrine of law wherein an individual

is said to be maintaining on his premises, business or
residential a condition, instrumentality, machine, or
other agency that is dangerous to young children
because of their inability to appreciate peril, which
may reasonably be expected to attract children to such
premises.

2. Patrol Hazards

This term is frequently used to describe a

specific condition or place that requires the patrol
officer’s special attention. The hazard may be a bar
where fights frequently occur. It may be an abandoned
digging filled with stagnant water and used as a
swimming hole by children or an abandoned building or a
haunted house used for illegal activities.

High Visibility vs. Low Visibility Patrols

The theory underlying high-visibility patrol is

that there are central kinds of crime that can be
reduced by increasing the “aura of police
omnipresence.” High-visibility patrol programs have
been implemented with varying degree of success. The
kinds of crimes they have been directed toward also
vary, but are typically those crimes of violence which
are usually referred to as street crimes. High-
visibility patrol can be virtually anything designed to
increase patrol visibility.

While high-visibility patrol is intended to deter

street crimes, low-visibility patrol is designed to
increase the rate of apprehension. A secondary benefit
is that other kinds of crimes will be deterred as
results of greater probability of persons being
apprehended in the commission of a crime. Surprise is
the primary element in the low-visibility patrol
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program. The idea is to provide a police presence in an

area where selected crimes are likely to occur without
the presence of the police being detected.

Concept of Split-Force Police Patrol

The split-force police patrol concept was
developed as a means of satisfying the needs of both
preventive patrol and demands made by calls for
service. It grew out of the recognition that both
preventive patrol and calls for service were important,
but that one often conflicted with the other.

One of the disadvantages of the split-force police

patrol concept, on the other hand is that it relies
upon specialization and fragmentation of the patrol
force which could have long-term adverse consequence on
morale and teamwork, and coordination among the members
of the patrol force.

Traditional Police Patrol Pattern

Despite of variety of other useful patrol methods,
the local setting usually observed the following
traditional patterns in police patrol strategies, to
wit:

1. Clockwise Pattern

The objective of the clockwise patrol pattern at

the start of the eight (8) hour tour of duty is for the
patrol officer to survey the situation and condition of
the boundaries of his area of responsibility, for the
next forthcoming hour, his technique will be zigzag,
counter clockwise or the straight-way and crisscross
pattern.

2. Counter Clockwise Pattern

This technique is simply the reverse of the

clockwise pattern. It is observed before the end of the
eight (8) hour tour of duty in order for the patrol
officer to be sure that no untoward incident transpired
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in his area of responsibility. An outgoing patrol

officer must not leave his beat unless properly
relieved by the incoming patrol officer.

3. Zigzag or Free Wheeling Pattern

This is done by patrolling the streets within the

perimeter of the beats, not at random, but with a
definite target location where he knows his presence is
necessary, this action is of course based on his study
of the situations and conditions of his beats.

4. Straightway and Crisscross Pattern

The straightway pattern is patrolling the length

of a street, and therefore, the easiest to observe the
moment of the patrol officer; whereas, the crisscross
is more or less similar to zigzagging.

Alternative Police Patrol Patterns

Generally, professional patrol officers use a
combination of the following basic patrol patterns:

1. Circular

In this pattern, the mobile patrol car is driven

either from the approximate center of the beat in ever-
increasing “circles” or from outside of the beat in
ever-decreasing “circles. Obviously, the pattern is not
truly a circular, but approximately so.

2. Double-Back

This pattern is methodological and is also helpful

in learning the beat. Unpredictability can be provided
by varying the starting point and occasionally either
looping a block or making a double-back run on the same
street just covered.

3. Random
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There are as many ways of achieving a random

pattern, as there are beats to be covered and police
officers to patrol them. It is actually a combination
of the other two, and is the one that will probably use
once the patrol officer get to know the beat.
PART

4
POLICE PURSUIT OPERATIONS
===============================================
Protection of life and property, which applies to
pursuit operations, includes the lives of and property
of the individual being pursued, the police officer,
and any innocent people who might become involved in a
traffic accident as a direct result of the hot-pursuit
operations.

What is Pursuit Operations?

This is an immediate pursuit made by the police
officers after the commission of an offense, more
particularly with the use of mobile patrols cars with
the aim purpose of arresting fugitive from justice, or
placing an individual person under custody in order for
him to be held liable for the offense committed in
violation of the laws.

Pursuit Operations Driving Techniques

Hereunder are some techniques in pursuit operations:

1. Pick the location for the stop. Wait to try to

pull over the suspect’s motor vehicle until the patrol
officers have the maximum advantage.

2. Wait for as much backup as possible. One of the

biggest mistakes that patrol officers commit in
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attempting to make high-risk stops is to attempt to stop

the suspect immaturely.

3. Get close to the suspect’s motor vehicle. If

the patrol officers want to create pursuit operations,
just let the suspect think that he has every opportunity
to escape.

4. Do not be afraid to quit. Patrol officers are

supposed to exemplify courage. Sometimes the bravest
thing they can do is know when to back out pursuit
operations.

Procedures of Stopping Suspected Vehicle

Enumerated are the different procedures stopping

suspected motor vehicle, to wit:

1. First Method

When the traffic is heavy, or the officer is alone

in the car, it is sometimes best not to park the
vehicle out in the traffic lane or too close to the
suspect vehicle. In case of this sort, the police
vehicle should park directly behind the suspected
vehicle, with the left rear slightly jutting out toward
the traffic.

2. Second Method

The purpose of this method of stopping the suspect

vehicle is to provide the officers with some mean of
physical barrier. In this case, the police car is
turned in at an angle behind the suspect car, so that
the front left end of the police car is jutting out in
the traffic lane. In this way, the driver can use the
hood of the car for a barrier and protection, and the
passenger officer can use the rear right fender for the
same purpose.

3. Third Method
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This method will be covered in a more detail in

order to follow through with the complete procedure to
be used is stopping suspected vehicles with felony
suspects, i.e., turn on the red lights and sound the
siren or horn. Use spotlight if it is at night. The
passenger officer should roll his window down and
project his weapon at the driver of the suspect
vehicle.

Removing the Suspects from the Motor Vehicle

Hereunder are the procedures to be followed in
removing the suspects from the chased and stopped motor
vehicle:

1. The Driver

The driver should always be removed first. He is

usually the leader. Have him grab the top of the
steering, and when his feet are on the ground, have him
then place his hands high in the air; then have him
slowly back up to you.

2. The Front Passenger

Have the front seat passenger slide over to the

driver side of the car and put his hands on top of the
steering wheels. Then have him repeat the same
procedure earlier made by the driver in disembarking in
the motor vehicle.

3. The Rear Passenger

Have the rear seat passengers put both hands out

of the door windows and open the doors from the outside
with their hands remaining on the outside. When their
feet are on the ground, have them raise their hands
high and back up toward you.

Terminating Pursuit Operations

 24

Once the patrol officers are in pursuit

operations, there are some techniques available:

1. Boxing

It is done by literally surrounding the suspect

motor vehicle with mobile patrol cars and then slowing
as a group to a stop. This technique is generally only
successful at very slow speeds and is sometimes used
with grossly intoxicated drivers.
2. Channelizing

It is consisting of deliberately directing a motor

vehicle into a given path or location such as an
unpaved roadway, dead-end or parking lot, and by using
stationary objects in the path of the pursued motor
vehicle.

3. Ramming

It is simply running into the other vehicle in a

manner designed to force his to stop. There is a real
art in the technique of ramming resulting n disabling
the suspect motor vehicle without destroying the mobile
patrol car.

4. Spin-Out

Obviously, this has to be carefully planned and

choreographed. The patrol officers do not want to send
the suspect spinning into a group of pedestrians or
other cars, and they want to leave room for them to
brakes and avoid entanglement to the collision.

5. Roadblocks

These are used primarily in rural areas with very

limited routes in or out of an area. The logistics
simply make it an important technique in large areas,
and the manpower and material requirements make it
difficult to use along major highways.

6. Spikes
 25

A far lower risk alternative to the roadblock is

the spike strip. The strip consists can be rapidly
deployed across an entire roadway. The material has
hundreds of small hollow spikes, designed to perforate
the tires of the pursued motor vehicle.

7. Gunfire

Laws and police operational procedures allow for

shooting at the suspect’s motor vehicle under the
gravest of circumstances. Not only that the patrol
officers have to comply with every facet of the law and
procedures.

Searching the Occupants of Motor Vehicle

In searching the occupants, there are four main
types of searching positions, as follows:

1. Wall Search

The wall search is the most common and the most

practical of all searches. It can be used on motor
vehicles as well as wall. This is being called as the
spread eagle position. This is the safest type of
search.

2. Kneeling Search

The kneeling search is used when there is no

vertical surface for a wall search. Before conducting
this type of search, it is best to have all other
suspects lay on the ground in a “spread eagle” fashion,
facing the other direction.

3. Stranding Search

Because of a fault in the kneeling search, the

spread leg standing search was developed. The spread
standing search is used under the same as the kneeling
search, and it involves the suspect standing with his
legs as far apart and hands are raised.
 26

4. Prone Search

The suspects are directed to lays down on the

ground after disembarking in the stopped motor vehicle
under chased with legs and arms spread apart as far as
possible.

PART
5

POLICE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM

===============================================
Introduction

Communications has always been a part of and

policing activities. Since man’s existence on this
earth, there has been a need for a system by which a
man could warn his fellowman of existing or impending
of send him a message. In the history of Anglo-American
police patrol, we find the horn replaced by the hand-
bell, and then finally the metal whistle.

Historical Development
The police communications system is the backbone
of the police tactics. Without proper communications,
the modern police organization would be at lost. When
police vehicles were first used, there were no radio
communications, as we know it today. The system of
notifying patrol vehicles of emergencies and call for
service was handled by the installation of red lights
at the major intersections of the town or city.
 27

When police stations wanted to contact a police

car, they would pull a switch that would send power to
the red lights at the intersection. The next time the
patrol car passed the intersection and saw the red
light on, he would drive to police stations for the
assignment. When telephones became more common, the
officer would call police stations when he observed the
light signal.

When radios were first installed in police

vehicle, they were usually just receivers, and did not
have transmitters for answering calls. The radio
operator would broadcast the calls, and hope that it
was received. The police have always been keenly aware
of the importance of communications, and because of
this, they along, with the military have been leaders
in the development of new methods of communications.

Importance of Communications

The police communication systems hold a key

position in the apprehension process. If the mobility,
maneuverability, and flexibility of control made
possible by motorization are to be translated into
striking power, there must be unfailing lines of
communications between the elements of command in the
police organizations, and they must properly organize.
The phenomenal development of communications facilities
during the past thirty years is a matter of record. The
police have been reasonably prompt in applying these
devices to the problems of operational control.

Conventional Communications Center

Most police communications centers operate in a
two-stage manual process. When call is made to the
police station, the officer at the complaint desk first
determines the need for police action, and then records
the details on a card. The card is then rooted to a
dispatch console where the operator has control of one
or more radio channels. In the smaller police
 28

organizations, this is usually accomplished by handling

the card from one person to another.

In larger police organizations, it is customary to

use a conveyor belt system between two positions. The
operator at the dispatch console then establishes radio
contact with the patrol unit and relays the details of
the complaint. The dispatcher also has the duty of
maintaining a record of the status of police vehicles
under his control. If information is needed from the
records sections or from some computer source, the
operator must then phone for this information.
Techniques in Radio Communications
Since communications over a police radio presents
many problems, the following information is intended to
better help the patrol officer in this endeavor. police
organization can have some of the finest communication
equipment in the country, but its use become greatly
impaired if the police officers in the field are not
familiar with the proper use of the equipment, and do
not adhere to the basic rules of radio procedures.

The increasing population has resulted in an

increase in crime, and the need for “air time.” Many
police organizations have been forced recently to use
two of more frequencies because air traffic was so
heavy. With airtime so valuable, it has become
increasingly important that it not be wasted. One of
the best ways to insure the proper use of airtime is to
follows the ABCs of radio transmission.

The ABCs of Radio Transmission

Hereunder are the ABCs of the radio transmission
with the use of police communications system, as
follows:

1. Accuracy

Accuracy is necessary to get the desired

information to the receiving party without having the
message later re-checked over the air for possible
 29

errors. There is also danger to the police officer in

the field, should improper information lead his to
believe that there “no wants” on a suspect that he has
just stopped, when in fact that suspects is wanted and
classed as dangerous.

2. Brevity

Brevity is increasingly important to the expanding

volume of radio traffic. This makes it essential that
there be no unnecessary or repetitious words in the
transmission. Half of the words in English language are
not needed in order to understand the message. There is
certainty no need to add to the communications problem.
The important point is understanding and clarity.

3. Courtesy

Courtesy is necessary for rapid and efficient

service. Courtesy begets courtesy. Anger begets anger.
The courtesy in police communications is more a form of
respect than flowery words. In fact, brevity demands
that courtesy not be expressed in words. The police
officers who say “thank you very much” on the air is
practicing good human relations, but he is taking up
very valuable air time. Courtesy can be shown in the
voice.

Types of Police Radios

The following are the different types of police
radios:

1. Handheld

A 5-watts transceiver radio with an antenna and a

battery pack in a single package and sometime called
the portable radio. Message is transmitted done by
pressing the push-to-talk (PTT) button then orally
convey the message thru the microphone attached to it.
This is the basic radio equipment of a policeman when
conducting official duties in the field, and or any
kind of policing activities.
 30

2. Base Radio

A 25-watts radio transceiver usually installed at

the tactical operation center of the police station.
Its antenna is mounted outside of the building to
enable long distance transmission and reception of
radio signals. It can be an AC source using a power
supply of a 12V DC output and it is also equipped with
a handset where the originators can convey their
message using the PTT.

3. Mobile Radio

Similar with the base radio, it is a 25-watts

transceiver, and it is usually installed in the mobile
patrol cars of the police. Its antenna is mounted at
the top of the vehicle and powered by the car battery.
Mobile radio refers to the wireless communications
systems and devices which are based on radio
frequencies used by the originator and receiver of the
communication.

Priority Codes in Police Calls

It is the responsibility of complaint officer, who
received the call over the phone, to assign that call a
code if one is necessary.

1. No Code

When no code has been assigned, or in those police

organizations where a “code 0” is used, the call has
the lowest priority, and it is usually picking some
papers or information that is not too important. In
this case, there is no one anxiously awaiting the
arrival of the officer.

2. Code 1

This is a routine call, and it is to be answered

by observing all the traffic laws. The red lights and
 31

siren will not be used on any code one call. If the

officer in the field is aware of circumstances unknown
to radio control, he or she may use code two or three,
but the responsibility for decision is strictly his
own.

3. Code 2

Code two means URGENT, and it is to be answered

immediately to the scene as quickly as possible with
safety, by observing all traffic laws, and without the
use of siren. Some officers will use their red lights
during code two calls in order to expedite their
movement through traffic if it is fairly heavy.

4. Code 3

Code three means EMERGENCY, and like code two is

to be answered immediately by driving to the scene as
quickly and safely as possible, but in this case, the
red lights and the siren are to be used to obtain the
right of way. If must be remembered that code three is
a not magic, and the important thing is to get there.

What is Coding and Ciphering?

Changing plaintext into codes and ciphers is
called encoding or enciphering. Finding the secret
information in the cryptogram is called decoding or
deciphering. The art of using and solving codes and
ciphers is called cryptography from the Greek kryptos,
meaning hidden, and graphia, meaning writing. Breaking
a code or a cipher is called cryptanalysis.

Since code systems use a secret vocabulary in

which a code number or a code group may stand for a
complete message, code systems require the use of code
books. Words, phrases, and sentences that are used in
special operations, such as naval intelligence, are
compiled in a kind of dictionary. Each of the plaintext
terms is given a code number or a code group.
 32

Cipher systems are variations of the basic methods

of substitution and transposition. In the substitution
method, letters, numbers, and other symbols in the
plaintext keep their original positions, but are
replaced by other letters, numbers or symbols.

For example, the message WILL ARRIVE AT SEVEN

might be enciphered XJMM BSSJWF BU TFWFO. Here, each
letter was replaced by the one immediately following it
in the alphabet.