Periodically stopping and listening is also important. Your ears may become attuned to the rhythmic sounds of your steps and equipment jostling while walking for long periods of time. By not moving for a few moments, your mind and ears may pick up on distant sounds that could be signs of trouble.
Gathering Intel
Scanning the interiors of restaurants or businesses when walking by them or prior to entering them can allow you to note anything unusual. A benefit of regular foot patrol can be recognizing what and who looks out of place, which leads into an important benefit of foot patrol. Recognizing unusual behavior at specific spots as well as getting to know the people on your patrol beat gives you an excellent opportunity to gather intelligence on possible criminal behavior within that area.
Citizens and police officers through time and trust can develop a “we” relationship when working to keep a neighborhood safe. This symbiotic relationship, which is vital to any community policing effort, can chip away at the “us vs. them” attitude that can manifest in different neighborhoods based on a history of mistrust between police and those they serve.
By getting out and talking with people and business owners, you can establish relationships where citizens feel comfortable telling you about what and who concerns them. In time you will have your finger on the pulse of a neighborhood and be able to serve it better.
But be cautious chatting up the locals. You do not want to endanger the residents who provide you with information. These citizens have to live and/or work in the neighborhood and talking to a cop could cause a problem for them. The intelligence you gather from them should be used judiciously and generally used to support other more formal information you’ve learned
Take the High Ground
Walking a beat should not be limited to ground level action. If your areas of patrol include multiple story buildings or higher natural elevations, you should periodically observe your beat from high ground.
Getting above street level allows you to see the area you patrol from a different perspective. This perspective may allow you to plan your routes better, observe criminal or suspicious activity, and note possible hiding spots for suspects.
Conditioning is Crucial
Depending on the type of assignment, full time or as part of a periodic assignment, if you’ve been assigned to foot patrol you need to pace yourself. A casual and steady walking pace will allow you to absorb more information and listen better. Walking too fast may wear you ou
t more quickly and limit your energy if you suddenly get involved in a running foot chase.
For pacing purposes, it is important to take time to stop or sit for awhile. This gives your legs a chance to rest and relieves some stress on your knees.
One of the health benefits of foot patrol is the exercise. For tracking purposes, purchase a pedometer to see how many miles you log while on shift. You are essentially working and working out while on duty and this can be a real win-win for you and your department.
The benefits of foot patrol are many. Officers walking beats can contribute to an added sense of security within a neighborhood and enhance the harmony between police officers and those they serve. Having strategies to implement this patrol function can benefit the officers, their agencies, and the communities they serve. Police officers on foot patrol should not just be sent out to walk a beat but should instead be sent out “walking with a plan.”
Tom Wetzel is a northeast Ohio suburban police lieutenant, SWAT officer, trainer, and certified law enforcement executive.
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