1. Patrol Vocabulary
•Differential Response- patrol strategy that assigns
priorities to calls for service
•Line Functions- Police components that carry out
field operations (ex. Patrol, investigation, traffic)
•Preventative Patrol – Making the police presence
known to deter crime
•Directed Patrol- Proactive form of patrolling that
directs resources to high crime areas
•Aggressive Patrol- Strategy that maximizes number of
police interventions and observations in community

2. Delivery of Police Services
•Police deliver a variety of services in the field
including patrol, investigation, forensics, traffic,
vice, and drug enforcement among others
•Staff functions support and supplement line
functions from office positions – include
secretaries, bookkeepers and dispatchers

3. Patrol Services
•Patrol- word derived from the French word
“patrouiller” which means “to tramp about in the
mud”
•Most people associate the “police” with patrol units
•Two thirds of most police forces is made up of patrol
officers
•Patrol officers must be trained and ready to react to
any situation

4. Investigation Services
•Comprised of officers known as “detectives”
•Detectives do not wear uniforms, are supervised
less closely and enjoy more flexible hours
•Detectives investigate crimes after they have
been reported by a patrol officer or citizen
•Small police departments do not have
investigative teams

5. Special Operations
•Special Operations departments operate within
larger police departments (ex. NYPD)
•Traffic, Vice, Drug Enforcement and Gang Units
are examples of specialized units
•Patrol officers also share these responsibilities –
Why?
•Much of this work is conducted undercover