NCJ Number
15171
Date Published
1970
Length
9 pages
Annotation
PRESENTS REASONS FOR USING ONE-MAN PATROL CARS, DISCUSSES GUIDELINES FOR WHEN AND WHERE TO USE THEM, PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED BY ASSIGNED OFFICERS, AND CHALLENGES ARGUMENTS USED IN OPPOSING ONE-MAN CARS.
Abstract
BETTER PATROL COVERAGE, MORE RAPID CALL RESPONSE, MORE EFFECTIVE OBSERVATION, MORE ECONOMICAL, AND LESS HAZARDOUS ARE THE REASONS OFFERRED FOR USING ONE-MAN CARS. IN DECIDING WHERE TO USE ONE-MAN CARS, IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE NUMBER AND CHARACTER OF CRIMES IN A GIVEN AREA SHOULD DICTATE THE DECISION. FACTORS SUCH AS STREET DESIGN, DEGREE OF CONGESTION, AND NATURAL BARRIERS THAT MIGHT INTERFERE WITH OTHER POLICE CARS GETTING TO THE CRIME SCENE SHOULD ALSO BE CONSIDERED. SINGLE OFFICERS IN A CAR ARE TO BE GIVEN CAREFUL INSTRUCTION AS TO WHEN TO RADIO FOR HELP. ARGUMENTS THAT ONE-MAN CAR OPERATIONS ARE DANGEROUS, UNSUITABLE FOR AGGRESSIVE PATROL WORK, LACK SUFFICIENT MANPOWER FOR MOST ASSIGNEMNTS AND DIMINISH BSERVATION ARE MET WITH COUTER ARGUMENTS THAT ALERTNESS, GOOD JUDGEMENT, AND CALLS FOR NONCRIMINAL OR AFTER THE CRIME INVESTIGATIONS ARE CONSIDERED TO JUSTIFY ONE-MAN PATROLS.