Patrol Issues
The Patrol Issues topic page offers news, commentary, analysis, and tactical tips that will help prepare police officers for life on the thin blue line.
Bodycam footage lays bare two officers’ shocking inaction during a man’s final moments, exposing a profound betrayal of their duty to protect life
The following 10 points are what I have used in my tenure as chief of police
In choosing a career in law enforcement we have chosen a life which presents challenges that often will take us to that mud room between life and death
The officer plays Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” as another man laughs and jams along
Assistant Chief Paul Stokes said the new version of the unit initially will focus on street-level prostitution, human trafficking and gambling in illegal game rooms
The court’s ruling recognizes the life-threatening dynamics involved in split-second confrontations between police and aggressive suspects
State and local leaders developed a targeted, collaborative program to address homelessness, drug and criminal activity spiraling out of control in Salt Lake City
In Philadelphia, police often race shooting victims to the hospital rather than wait for paramedics. Experts in trauma and policing say more cities should consider it.
There was a clear winner when university researchers investigated the health benefits of load-bearing vests versus duty belts
The advent of cloud-based and Wi-Fi services means that radio fleet managers can now “push” changes in a relatively short time
Last year a man driving a pickup truck killed eight people and seriously injured 11 others
Just as police planners would engage with schools and workplaces, they should engage proactively with houses of worship
Sit-lie laws prohibit sitting or lying on the sidewalk
“This is community policing on steroids,” Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said
The officers saved some to eat and handed out the rest to the area’s homeless
In any given year, roughly half of all police-involved shootings take place from or around vehicles – find out the steps agencies can take to harden vehicles to protect officers from attack
The museum, which was built by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), features immersive, interactive exhibits
The mobile crisis teams, which are staffed by police officers and mental health professionals from the Affiliated Sante Group, currently operate only from 9:30 a.m. until 1 a.m.
Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is defined as a multi-disciplinary approach to deterring criminal behavior through environmental design
Some departments are purchasing drug scanners to help officers safely identify substances
With an effective homeless outreach team, your law enforcement agency can deploy strategies to solve chronic homelessness
Jim and Doug discuss the difficulty with detecting and enforcing impaired driving as a result of marijuana intoxication
The shooting occurred after a struggle during a traffic stop, officials said
Never assume that because you know a person, they will not be aggressive toward you
Do not treat subjects with a mental delay or handicap any differently in a call for service where they appear to be suspect
Voluntary, non-disciplinary officer safety initiative allows law enforcement personnel to read about and anonymously share stories of close calls
Officers often share their near misses with their close friends, but rarely are these stories, and the lessons learned from them, shared with officers across the country
Officers need to consciously evaluate the threat presented and the distance available, and prioritize what they need to do first
The shooting is another example of “too many guns on the street,” Police Commissioner William Gross said
Purchasing a digital evidence management system is a significant investment for PDs, so ensuring both the software and the vendor are the right fit for your agency is key
Jim and Doug discuss the failed strategies that have led to widespread chronic homelessness, and offer some new ideas to fix the problem
Officials say the officer was returning to his vehicle when he collapsed due to a medical issue
“On this street corner, I encounter all types and the only type that’s ever purposely intimidated me is [the police],” the owner wrote online
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