Topic 4c Presentation

OTHER TYPES OF PATROL

 
HORSE PATROL (Mounted patrol)
The horse patrol is one of the oldest types of patrol next to walking (foot patrol). Until
today, there is still need for horse patrol in areas where the terrain is steep and rough
thus cannot be accessed thru mobile patrol.
The disadvantage of the horse patrol is the cost of stables and upkeep, including their
limited use in urban areas.  They are not much good at chasing criminals who are
fleeing using a motorized vehicle.  Moreover, they require close physical attention for
grooming and feeding, which makes it more expensive compared to mobile patrol thru
the use of cars or motorcycles.
 
The following are some of the most common uses of horse patrol.

1. Park patrol
2. Beach patrol
3. Posse and search duty:  Any community that is close to, or part of mountainous
area has the problem of chasing down escaped or wanted person who have fled to
their areas.  They also have the problem of children, hunters and fishermen
becoming lost in those areas.  The mounted posse is undoubtedly the best means of
locating these persons when used in conjunction with the helicopter.

3. Parade and crowd control: The horse also provides its rider with higher and
better plane of vision than the driver of a patrol car,

 
DOG/CANINE/K-9  PATROL
History shows us that dogs have been used as means of personal protection throughout
recorded history. During world war 2, the military on all sides widely used dogs as a
means of security and protection. The Egyptians were the first to use dogs in patrolling.
In the US, dogs have been used in police patrol since 1900.  In April 1957, Baltimore
was the only American police force that used trained dogs handler teams on patrol.  As
of April 1968, about 200 police agencies used a total of 500-man dog teams in police
patrol work.   
The key to the successful use of police dogs in patrol is based first of all on an
understanding and willing master; second is, on the proper selection and training of the
dogs; and finally, is, on preparing the general public for their use. 
To become a dog’s master or handler, the officer must first of all have an understanding
of animals.  He must be willing to make personal sacrifices in keeping the dog, as must
his family. 
The selection and training of dogs is very important, and can present many problems. 
Not all breeds of dogs are suited for police work.  Even among those most suited for
police work there many that didn’t work out.  The type of dog that so far seems to be the
best suited for all round police work is the German Shepherd. 
The use of dogs can work out fine, but if the public thinks that they are a danger to the
community as well as to the criminal, they will not last.  A well-planned public relations
campaign must be conducted to show the general public that the police dog is gentle
except when commanded by his master, and that his use will be restricted to the more
serious offenses.  A poorly informed public can imagine all sorts of misuse of police
dogs such as attacking traffic offenders and the like.  They must be informed through
proper press coverage and public demonstrations.
 
Uses of K-9s in police operations

1. Provide great assistance in search and rescue as well as in smelling out drugs
and bombs.
2. Provide protection for one officer patrol.
3. Great value in crowd control. Trained dogs are fearless and loyal to their
handlers have a significant psychological effect on would-be trouble makers.
4. Extensively used in international airports to detect narcotics and bombs because
of their keen sense of smell. A dog is capable of recognizing an odor 10 million
times better than a human can.
5. Specially trained dogs are extremely effective in finding bodies dead or alive, just
buried or buried for years.
6. Locating trapped people during emergencies.
7. Can be an asset to public efforts. Well trained police dogs can be used for
demonstrations in public affairs, schools, or parades.

 
What breeds of working dogs are best suited for police works?

1. German Shepherds – the most frequently used and highest scoring dog for
police work.
2. Black Labrador retrievers and Giant Schnauzers
3. Rottweilers, Doberman pinschers
4. Bouviers and Newfoundlands
5. Airedale terriers
6. Alaskan malamutes

 
Disadvantages of using K-9 in patrol operations

1. Most police dogs work with only one handler.

2. K-9, like most dogs, is territorial, and its handler and its K-9 cruiser are part of its
territory.
3. Dog training is expensive. Dog training usually takes 10 to 20 weeks.
4. Police department that K-9 section is vulnerable to law suits.

 
AIRCRAFT PATROL
Among the more recent trends in patrolling is the use of aircraft, either helicopter or
fixed-wing. Today, it has become necessary for the police use aircraft in performing
both routine and specialized patrol activities.  The use of aircraft is not totally new.  In
1925, the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department has already formed a volunteer
Reserve Aero Squadron.  Full-time Aero detail is still an official unit in this police
department today.  Before 1929, the New York police department began using aircraft. 
In 1947, the New York Port Authority began using helicopters for surveillance,
transportation, and rescue.  Other cities and state agencies in USA have employed
helicopters, usually during daylight hours.  In 1986, the state of California developed an
experimental program using helicopters for police patrolling known as SKY KNIGHT. 
During the latter part of 1959, the Public Safety Department of Dade County in Florida
used the aerial patrol concept.  At present, it is effectively utilizing fixed-wing aircraft and
helicopters in regular patrols to prevent crime and apprehend offenders or engage in
surveillance activities.
 
Advantages of Fixed-wing Aircraft Patrol

1. Patrolling long stretches of highway or expresses of inaccessible land.

2. Excellent for traffic control in long stretches of highways, for search and
surveillance and other special missions.

      
Disadvantages of Fixed-wing Aircraft Patrol

1. Fixed-wing aircraft has very little flexibility in congested metropolitan areas.

2. Needs a space of flat land for lift-off and landing.
3. Very expensive to operate.

 
Advantages of Helicopter Patrol

1. Able to travel at low speeds, to hover if necessary, and to land even in small
patch of flat land.
2. Increased visual range/scope.
3. More efficient for rescue, medical evacuation, surveillance, and other high profile
police activities.
4. Improved response time to emergency calls and other called-for service
5. Increased rate of apprehension of professional and organized crime groups.
6. Improved efficiency of regular patrol units through airborne reconnaissance.
7. Increased ability in conducting searches for missing/lost people suspected
offenders and escaping prisoners.
8. Provide a better system of flood lighting areas to be patrolled at night.
9. Capable of broadcasting information to a large area through airborne speakers.
10. Provide rapid emergency transportation of personnel.
11. Added security to patrol officers on foot, motorcycles or in patrol cars through
backup offered by aerial patrol.

 
Disadvantages of Helicopter Patrol

1. Very expensive – high cost of training of pilots/operators, buying, fuel, and

special facilities for housing and maintenance.
2. Public complaints about the noise and about being spied upon.
3. Forcibly grounded during bad weather; smog and light or intermittent clouds
affecting visibility.
4. Presence of various hazards especially in congested areas.
5. There are landing patterns or procedures that must be followed, which delays
landing time.
6. Pilots must work shorter periods of time than regular police shift since driver of
helicopters easily suffer work fatigues.
7. There are many tactical problems to overcome such as location of police units on
ground and the exact location of addresses.
8. Element of surprise is lost since criminals could hear the helicopter coming even
from a great distance.

 
BICYLE PATROL
Bicycle patrols are more common in temperate urban areas where limited coverage
areas are available. The use of bicycles instead of cars can make police officers more
easily approachable, especially in low-crime areas. Bicycles can also be issued to
police officers to enhance the mobility and range of foot patrols.  Bicycles can also be
effective crime-fighting tools when used in densely populated urban areas.  The bikes
are nearly silent in operation and many criminals do not realize that an approaching
person on a bike is actually a police officer.  Furthermore, if the criminal attempts to flee
on foot, the riding police officer has a speed advantage while able to quickly dismount if
necessary.
In the Philippine setting the bicycle patrol was once introduced by the Man ila Police in
1939 to augment the foot patrol coverage in parks and residential areas.  Unfortunately,
when two patrol officers were killed, one was stabbed when chasing in his bicycle a bag
snatcher at the Luneta Park, while the other one was sideswiped by a bus.  Bicycle
patrol was abandoned it was then considered hazardous.    
 
Advantages of Bicycle Patrol

1. It is economical or inexpensive to operate.

2. It has the combine advantage of mobility and stealth because it can be operated
very quietly and without attracting attention.
3. To control burglaries which are getting out of hand.

 
MOTORCYCLE PATROL
Although the use of motorcycle has lost ground to the use of patrol cars in recent years,
their need in congested traffic will insure their continued use as a form of police patrol.
The two-wheel motorcycle is quite adaptable to traffic enforcement, parades and escort
duty. It has disadvantages of being used only in fair weather, of causing a greater
number of accidents that are usually quite serious, and in the long run costing the
department almost as much as a patrol vehicle despite the apparent low rate cost.
The chance of a motorcycle rider being injured is nine times as great as that of the
driver of an automobile.  He is also four times likely to be killed than police officer riding
in an automobile.
The three-wheel motorcycle is used almost exclusively in the enforcement of parking.  It
has the disadvantage of not providing the rider with protection against the weather.
 
MARINE PATROL/BAY AND RIVER PATROL/ BOAT PATROL
Marine or water patrol units, aside from being a highly specialized form of police patrol,
is likewise expensive to maintain. In the early years of the PC/INP integration, it was the
Western Police District who introduced this type of patrol in police work.
The objective was to use the watercraft in the anti-smuggling operations along the Pasig
river and Manila Bay as well as against robberies committed in bonded warehouses
located along the riverbanks.  However, because of the expenses incurred in its
operation and maintenance did not compensate the advantages, police use it became
inoperative.
Water patrol units are extremely specialized and are not in great use except in areas
with extensive coasts or a great deal of lake or river traffic.  The objective was to use
the water vehicles in anti-smuggling operations as well as against robberies committed
in warehouses along riverbanks or water ports. 
Like aircraft, boats are expensive to buy, operate and maintain.  Further, those who
operate them must have special training.  Nonetheless, boats are the best means to
effectively control violators of water safety regulations as well as to apprehend drug and
gun smugglers.  They are also valuable in rescue operations during times of flooding as
well as in dragging operations for drowning cases.