Get out of the car: Alternative patrol tactics

The most fundamental aspect of community policing is having cops personally and proactively interacting with the community. That’s mighty difficult to do when you have two thousand pounds of police cruiser wrapped around you, with the windows rolled up and the radio chirping. In recent years, we’ve seen many agencies increase their foot patrols, especially in downtown business districts where there is a lot of pedestrian traffic, and the sidewalk presence of police officers can help to prevent everything from cell phone theft to shoplifting. However, there are other alternatives to explore. In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss the ways in which police can remain mobile for rapid response, and yet also remain available for affable conversation with the average citizen.