Patrol and Observation

Patrol and Observation Summary During this unit, you learned about principles of patrol and observation. Key points covered in this unit were: 1. The main objectives and major duties of a patrol officer. The objectives of patrol are: the protection of life and property; the prevention of crime; and the maintenance of peace and order. 2. The objectives and duties of a patrol officer can be accomplished a number of ways, including preventive enforcement and directed enforcement. Preventive enforcement is a form of patrol that attempts to eliminate opportunities for crime to take place and can be thought of as target hardening. Directed enforcement is a type of patrol in which an officer9s activities are focused on a particular area or problem. 3. Patrol officers may be assigned to foot patrol, motorized patrol, or specialized patrol. Each type of patrol has advantages and disadvantages, and the type of patrol is selected to accomplish the particular needs of the community and the agency at that time. 4. The basic activities of a patrol officer include, among other things, responding to calls and frequently checking property on his or her assigned beat. 5. Perception and observation are influenced by a number of factors, including but not limited to, the needs and desires of the individual, experience, training, education, conditioning, and the five physical senses. Other factors that influence perception include characteristics of the perceived object, event, or person such as size, frequency, and intensity. 6. Officers should familiarize themselves with their beat. Understanding the geography, community habits, and other characteristics of the patrol area will help them officer remain effective and efficient while on patrol. This initial tour of the beat at the beginning of the shift will help officers identify any potential hazards that may require a response later in the tour. 7. Apprehension patrol is a type of patrol in which officers focus on locating wanted persons or recovering stolen property. 8. The officers speed while patrolling their beat should be consistent with the speed of traffic and with posted speed limits, and appropriate to the activity in which he or she is engaged. When parking the patrol vehicle, the officer should consider a location and position that will best accommodate their needs, and that does not violate any parking regulations. 9. There are three patterns of movement that an officer may use while on patrol. These are: circular patrol, in which the officer starts on either the outer perimeter of the beat or in the approximate center of the beat and drives in a manner that would appear circular when drawn out on a map; double-back patrol, in which the officer patrols a specific area and then turns around and covers the same area again in a short amount of time; and, random patrol, in which the officer patrols in an irregular and unpredictable manner. 10. When responding to improperly parked or abandoned vehicles, the officer should check the vehicle to determine if it is stolen by running the tag number and vehicle identification number through GCIC and NCIC. If the vehicle is not stolen, the officer should document and tag the vehicle in accordance with agency policies. 11. When responding to a call involving a missing person, the officer should gather as much information about the person as possible, including a recent photograph and video footage if available. Follow agency policies when determining whether it is appropriate to issue an Amber Alert or Mattie9s Call. Conduct a grid search and enlist the assistance of other officers as needed. 12. When initiating contact with a pedestrian, the officer must ensure that the stop is consistent with the Fourth Amendment and with agency policies. The officer should determine the safest place to initiate the contact and should approach the pedestrian on foot whenever possible. The officer must be mindful of the position each person during an interview and should position himself or herself with their weapon or strong side away from the pedestrian. 13. When called to remove an injured, ill, or dangerous animal, the officer9s primary concern should be his or her personal safety and the safety of the public. The officer should attempt to locate and isolate the animal until the proper animal control agency can arrive to assist the officer. If it becomes necessary to destroy the animal, the officer must follow all departmental policies and procedures. 14. Officers may be called to respond to hazardous conditions while on patrol. Some of these include downed electrical lines, malfunctioning traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, gas leaks, damage to fire hydrants, gas leaks, natural disasters, explosions and hazardous materials incidents. The primary goal when responding to any of these types of situations is to protect lives and property. This may involve offering first aid, directing traffic, or working with other responders to evacuate the area. The officer must understand his or her role in responding to these incidents and follow agency policies to ensure a proper response. 15. When trying to locate or determine the ownership of lost or stolen property, officers may use the media and citizens in the neighborhood to help spread the word. Officers should check computer databases when finding property and should enter information about missing property, such as serial numbers or owner applied markings, into GCIC and NCIC. 16. An important part of being prepared for duty, is attention to the condition and appearance of the officer9s uniform, gear, vehicle, and other equipment. Officers should ensure that their weapons, handcuffs, and other equipment is in good working order and regularly and properly maintained. An inspection should be conducted on both the interior and exterior of the patrol vehicle before leaving the station. The officer should report any damaged or missing equipment to the supervisor immediately. Controlled Substances Unit Objectives: 5.14.1 Identify the schedules of controlled substances under the Georgia Controlled Substances Act and their characteristics. ¥ Schedule I ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ Drugs or substances in this schedule have a high potential for abuse. They have no current medical use in the United States. There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or substance under medical supervision. Examples of Schedule I substances are Heroin, LSD, and Methaqualone. Schedule II Drugs or substances with a high potential for abuse are listed in Schedule II. They have a current accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions. Abuse of the substance may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence. Examples of Schedule II are Morphine, PCP, Cocaine, Methadone, and Methamphetamine. Schedule III Drugs or other substances in this schedule have a lower potential for abuse than those in Schedule I and Schedule II. They have a current medical use in treatment in the United States. These substances may lead to a moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence. Examples of Schedule III are Anabolic Steroids, Codeine and Hydrocodone with aspirin or Tylenol, and some other barbiturates. Schedule IV Drugs or substances have a low potential for abuse relative to those substances in Schedule III. They do have current medical use in treatment in the United States. They also have limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to Schedule III. Examples of Schedule IV are Darvon, Talwin, Equanil, Valium, and Xanax. Schedule V Drugs or substances have a low potential for abuse relative to those substances in Schedule IV. They have a current medical use in treatment in the United States. They also have limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to Schedule IV. An example of Schedule V would be an over-the-counter cough medicine that contains codeine. 5.14.2 Identify the specific offenses under the Georgia Controlled Substances Act and the elements of those offenses. ¥ A summary of the Act states it is unlawful for any person to possess or have under his control, manufacture, deliver, distribute, dispense, administer, sell or possess with intent to distribute any controlled substances. Three important questions in a valid arrest and prosecution for violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act are: " Is the substance controlled? " Is the substance scheduled? " Was the evidence collected legally and properly? 5.14.3 Identify indicators of a clandestine drug laboratory 5.14.4 Identify the appropriate response for discovery of a lab. 5.14.5 Identify the most common drugs of abuse. 5.14.6 Identify the field testing techniques of unknown substances in the field. 5.14.7 Describe the chain of custody associated with drug evidence. ¥ From time of initial involvement, the officer builds a chain of custody leading from evidence collection to its use as an exhibit in the courtroom. ¥ The chain of possession or chain of custody consists of all persons, including the defendant, who have exercised control over the item of evidence. ¥ The officer must maintain a record of all persons who have exerted any influence over the evidence. This record is generally referred to as the chain of custody form. ¥ If the officer must relinquish the evidence, he or she should assure him or herself that it has been identified properly, marked or tagged, and should obtain a receipt from the person accepting it. Summary During this unit, you learned about the peace officer liability. Key points covered in this unit were: 1. Controlled substances are drugs, substances, or immediate precursors in Schedules I through V of the O.C.G.A. and 21 C.F.R. Part 1308. 2. Controlled substances are divided into five classifications: narcotics, stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, and marijuana. 3. Each classification of drug has both physical and psychological effects. 4. The Georgia Controlled Substances Act is found in Title 16, Chapter 13 of the O.C.G.A. 5. The Federal Controlled Substances Act places substances that are regulated under Federal law into one of five schedules. 6. Substances are assigned to schedules based on their potential for abuse and the potential for legitimate medical use. 7. Schedule I drugs have the highest potential for abuse and no current medical use in the United States. 8. Drug investigations use both overt and covert techniques. Covert techniques include undercover operations. Overt techniques include the execution of warrants and arrests made by uniformed officers. 9. Three questions must be answered to ensure a valid arrest for a violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act: is the substance controlled; is the substance scheduled; and, was evidence collected legally and properly? 10. Drug evidence must be handled carefully, with the chain of custody being properly and carefully maintained. Bombs, Explosives, and Arson Investigations Unit Objectives: 5.11.1 Identify the correct procedure for responding to the scene, securing the scene, evacuating the scene, and searching the premises. ¥ The police officer should have knowledge of all phases of bomb threat planning, to include organizational preparation, receiving threats, evacuation, and proper search techniques. Each of these areas will be dealt with separately below. The basic elements of a proper search technique are: o First, ensure cell phones and radios are turned off. o Search area where evacuees may be placed. (Remember these areas usually are unsecured and readily accessible to a bomber). o Check public areas. (These areas are where explosive devices are planted, as they are the most accessible to a person wanting to plant a bomb). o Start the search at the bottom floor and work upward. o If a device should detonate during the early stages of a search, the escape will not be obstructed. ¥ If working in two-person teams, divide the room in half. Search the lower, more accessible areas first and then work up to the ceiling (ex. search the area from the (1) floor to your waist, then (2) from your waist to your eyes, then (3)from your eyes to the ceiling, and lastly (4) in some instances like with ceiling tile, from the ceiling up. ¥ A good search pattern to use is an inward spiral search. ¥ An outward spiral is a good technique to use outdoors 5.11.2 Identify the correct procedure for identification and disposal of a bomb or explosive for the First Responder. ¥ Regardless of outer appearances, do not touch or disturb. ¥ Summon the services of bomb disposal personnel. Provide a complete and accurate description of the object. ¥ Evacuate the immediate area and block off a radius of at least 300 feet, if possible. Include areas above and below the object. ¥ All doors and windows near the device should be open. This will help reduce damage from blast over-pressure if the device should detonate. ¥ If time permits, sandbags or mattresses should be placed around (never on top of) the object. Do not use metal objects or any material that will fragment. Always remember the Bomb Technicians motto, If you can see the BOMB, the BOMB can see you!= ¥ Arrange to have fire and medical units standing by. ¥ Notify the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, ¥ Tobacco Firearms (ATF). These federal agencies provide extensive assistance in matters pertaining to explosives. 5.11.3 Identify the characteristics of a bomb or other explosive/incendiary in order to aid in evacuation, search, and crime scene processing. ¥ Bombs are classified as either explosive or incendiary. An explosive bomb causes damage by means of fragmentation, heat, and pressure; whereas, the incendiary type produces extensive fire when ignited 5.11.4 Identify the characteristics of physical evidence, which should be identified, collected, and preserved in an arson investigation. ¥ For a successful prosecution the evidence must prove that there was a fire and some property burned. ¥ Must find acquire evidence that shows the arson was of criminal design, for example, incendiary devices. ¥ After establishing Corpus Delicti (Offense), the investigator must identify the arsonist and prove that the suspect had intent to commit the arson. ¥ Witness Statements 5.11.5 Identify the elements of specific arson offenses. ¥ The Main Difference in the Degrees of the Arson Statues is as Follows: 1. Arson in the first degree contains the element of endangerment of human life and applies itself to encumbered properties. 2. Arson in the second generally applies to properties not covered in the first degree. 3. Arson in the third degree relates to property with a value over $25.00. 5.11.6 Identify effective investigative techniques for investigating the offense of arson. ¥ One of the more obvious signs that a fire is incendiary (intentionally set) is the presence of multiple fires. In these instances, there will be more than one point of origin and the investigator must be able to prove that the additional fires are not just the result of fire spread or communication with the first fire. ¥ The officer should be alerted to the fact that if there are two or more separate fires without the presence of the elements necessary for spontaneous combustion, then arson should definitely be suspected and you should notify the detectives or appropriate persons. ¥ Trailers are defined as any combustible material used to spread the fire from one point to another. Trailers leave burn patterns on floors, shelves and other surfaces where they have been placed. ¥ Flammable accelerants are found in areas other than where they would normally be located in a structure. When these substances are found throughout the area and have not been caused by the container exploding or leaking, the investigator may safely assume arson. ¥ Odors ¥ If an accelerant has been used to set a fire, the color of the flames and smoke may aid in the identification of the substance. Summary During this unit, you learned about the bombs, explosives, and arson. Key points covered in this unit were: 1. Arson is defined as any willful or malicious burning or attempting to burn, with or without intent to defraud, a dwelling house, public building= or personal property of another. 2. Georgia law distinguishes between first, second, and third degree arson. 3. Common motives for arson include profit, concealment of another crime, revenge, vandalism, excitement or pyromania, and extremism. 4. There are three types of serial fire starters: mass arsonists, spree arsonists, and the serial arsonist. 5. Indicators of arson include: multiple fires, trailers, flammable accelerants, odors, and the color of the smoke or fire involved. 6. In order to prove arson, the investigator must prove that there was a fire, and some property was burned by the defendant. The investigator must also prove that the burning was criminal, and the arsonist had the intent to commit the arson. 7. Witness statements, and the collection of evidence connecting the suspect to the crime can help in the prosecution. 8. Bombs are classified as explosive or incendiary. 9. Deteriorated dynamite, abandoned military munitions, and homemade devices are the common explosive threats that officers may be called upon to investigate. 10. The officer9s response to a bomb threat must follow departmental policies and procedures. 11. Officers will usually leave the decision to evacuate up to the building staff. 12. A search of the area should be conducted with representatives from the building who volunteer to assist. These representatives are likely to notice anything out of the ordinary that could indicate a suspicious device. 13. A search should follow a standard pattern and should start by carefully listening for any unusual sounds. 14. Neither officers, nor civilian personnel at the scene should handle any device or suspicious package and should instead notify bomb squad personnel. 15. If a device is located, the officer should direct building occupants to a safe area at least 400 yards away from the building. Stress During this unit, you learned about Key points covered in this unit were: 1. Stress has generally been defined as the way in which a person reacts to environmental stimuli. 2. There are four categories of stress: acute, episodic acute, chronic, and critical incident (trauma). 3. Acute stress is the most common form of stress and results from the demands and pressures of the recent past and anticipated demands and pressures of the near future. 4. Episodic acute stress is caused by frequent acute stress and can take the form of ceaseless worry. 5. Chronic stress is the grinding stress that wears people down day after day, year after year, and leads to serious illness. 6. Critical incident stress is stress caused by any tragic or traumatic event that causes a person to experience unusually strong, intense emotional reactions which have the potential to overwhelm the individual9s ability to cope. Critical incident stress can lead to Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD. 7. PTSD is defined as stress which may result when a person suffers an event or situation outside the range of normal experience which exceeds the individual9s perceived ability to meet its demands, and poses a serious threat to the loss of life. 8. The General Adaptation Syndrome (G.A.S.) is the medical classification of stress. G.A.S. has three stages of progression: alarm, where the systems of the body are aroused to respond to a stressor and all internal resources are focused on the stress factor; resistance, where reactions become specialized in an attempt to bring the stress factor within tolerable levels; and, exhaustion, where all the defenses collapse and stress runs wild as a result of failing to bring the stress under control. 9. There are four categories of sources of stress: external, internal, inherent to the job, and personal or individual stressors. 10. External stressors cannot be controlled by the officer or the department. They can only be mitigated, not completely eliminated. Examples include the courts and the judicial system, the public, and the media. 11. Internal stressors are specific to a particular agency and can be controlled by agency leadership. Examples include poor supervision, a lack of career development, excessive paper work, and inconsistent discipline. 12. Stressors that are inherent to police work are just a part of the job. Inherent stressors can only be managed and include role conflict, adverse work schedules, and a negative view of life. 13. Personal, or individual stressors are unique to each person and can include family issues, fear regarding abilities and second jobs. 14. Stress manifests through physical, cognitive, emotional, or behavioral reactions. 15. Burnout is the continuing sense of frustration and tiredness that often occurs when a person is dedicated to a calling or career and does not receive the rewards he or she expected. 16. Personality type plays a major role in how people deal with stress. Type A personalities are characterized by competitive, hostile, or aggressive behavior. Type B personalities are characterized as being slower to anger and more tolerant of themselves and others than type A personalities. 17. Positive coping methods for dealing with stress include medical examinations, counseling, good diet and weight control. 18. Negative coping methods for dealing with stress include projection, rationalization, displaced aggression, smoking, and drug or alcohol abuse. 19. Positive alternatives for reducing stress include eliminating stressors, seeking professional help, and increasing your ability to cope with stress. 20. Substance abuse is often the result of a failure to effectively manage stress. 21. Signs and symptoms of alcohol include being unable to limit the amount of alcohol you drink, developing a tolerance to alcohol so that you need more and more to achieve the same result, drinking alone or hiding alcohol, not remembering conversations, or blacking out. 22. Officers who need help dealing with stress have access to resources both inside and outside the agency, including peer counselors, chaplains, and Community Service Boards under contract with the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. Universal Precautions 7.8.1 Identify contagious diseases to which peace officers are commonly exposed. ¥ The most common include tuberculosis, hepatitis, HIV/AIDS, anthrax, rabies, influenza, and meningitis. 7.8.2 Identify the symptoms of the contagious diseases to which peace officers are commonly exposed. ¥ Tuberculosis: Coughing up blood, bad cough lasting longer than 3 weeks, pain in the chest. ¥ Hepatitis: Dark urine, clay-colored stool, jaundice, and abdominal pain ¥ HIV/AIDS: Wasting Syndrome, swollen lymph nodes, rashes, ulcers in mouth, sore throat. ¥ Anthrax: If cutaneous, blisters or itchy bumps, painless skin sores with black center. If inhalation, chest discomfort, extreme tiredness, other flu-like symptoms. ¥ Rabies: flu-like symptoms ¥ Influenza: flu ¥ Meningitis: fever, headache, stiff neck, sensitivity to light. 7.8.3 Identify universal precautions which a peace officer can utilize to minimize the risk of infection from a contagious disease. ¥ The CDC recommends that anyone who is exposed to blood or bodily fluids wash with soap and water immediately following the exposure. ¥ Flush the nose, mouth, or skin with water if the blood or fluids splashed. Eyes should be irrigated with clean water, saline, or sterile irrigating solution. ¥ Using bleach to wash the skin is not recommended, as it may cause burns or other negative side effects. UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS ¥ Avoiding contact with blood and other body fluids when possible. ¥ Treating all bodily fluids as if they are contaminated with an infectious disease. ¥ Using bandages to cover any open wounds, cuts, sores, scrapes, or skin conditions you may personally have. Using bandages to protect your skin can reduce the risk that you may contract a disease since bacteria and other pathogens can enter the body through injuries in the skin. ¥ Using barriers such as disposable gloves, eye protection and, masks, including a protective breathing mask when performing rescue breathing. ¥ Properly handling any equipment that could have potentially been contaminated. ¥ Practicing good hand hygiene, washing hands frequently, even if gloves are worn. ¥ Practicing good cough and sneezing etiquette, by using a tissue or handkerchief to cover your mouth and nose, or by sneezing or coughing into the inside of your elbow, and then washing your hands as soon as possible. Summary Key points covered in this unit were: 1. Infectious diseases are caused by pathogens, typically bacteria or viruses, that are spread through the air or through contact with the blood or bodily fluids of another person. 2. Pathogens that are spread through tiny droplets of a bacteria or virus that is sprayed when an infected person breaths, coughs, sneezes, or sings are call airborne pathogens. Airborne pathogens can be inhaled or absorbed through the eyes. 3. Blood borne pathogens are spread when the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person comes into contact with an open wound or sore of another person. 4. Some of the most common diseases to which an officer may be exposed include tuberculosis, hepatitis, HIV/AIDS, anthrax, rabies, influenza, and meningitis. 5. Officers must report any potential exposure to an infectious disease, to their superior officers both verbally and in writing, as soon as possible. 6. Symptoms vary with the disease, but may include fever, unexplained fatigue, cough, chills, nausea, headache and/or rash. Anyone experiencing symptoms similar to the flu should seek medical attention. 7. Universal precautions should be practiced regardless of the suspected or confirmed infection status of any person with which an officer has direct contact. 8. Officers should avoid making contact with blood or other bodily fluids whenever possible. 9. All bodily fluids should be treated as if they are contaminated with an infectious disease. 10. Officers should cover any open wounds, cuts, sores, scrapes, or other skin conditions with bandages, to prevent pathogens from entering the body through the skin. 11. Frequent hand washing, using soap and water and rubbing the hands together for at least 20 seconds can help reduce the transmission of bacteria from one person to another. 12. Officers should use protective barriers, such as a mask, disposable gloves, and eye protection when entering an area where blood or other bodily fluids are present. 13. A solution of one-part bleach to nine parts of water to disinfect your gear (expect leather gear) or other items that have potentially been contaminated. 14. Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 31-35-3) provides for free hepatitis vaccines for law enforcement officers and other public safety workers who may potentially be exposed to the hepatitis virus in the normal course of their duties. 15. Law enforcement officers should be vaccinated against tetanus and receive a booster shot at least every ten years. Community Policing Crime Prevention 1. The Broken Windows Theory suggests that signs of community neglect or general incivility in a particular community lead to crime that is more serious. 2. The Routine Activity Theory of Crime (aka the Crime Triangle) states that crime is the result of three conditions: the presences of a motivated offender (desire); the absence of capable guardians that could intervene (ability); and an accessible target (opportunity). If one or more of these conditions is removed, the likelihood of a crime being committed is greatly reduced. 3. Community support is necessary to reduce crime. This support is primarily achieved through the interaction of individual officers with members of the community. 4. Officers are constantly evaluated by the public. Officers should maintain a professional appearance by being well groomed, ensuring their uniform is well maintained, and staying physically fit. 5. Officers must remain unbiased, courteous, and helpful, even under the most trying of conditions. 6. The First Amendment protects a significant amount of speech directed toward law enforcement officers, who are expected to ...divorce themselves from any anger the words might have engendered.= The fighting words doctrine= is more narrowly defined when applied to law enforcement officers. However, when words directed toward officers constitute a direct threat to officer safety or obstruct an officer in the performance of his or her duties, the officer may be justified in taking enforcement actions based on words alone. 7. Even when subjected to heinous verbal abuse, an officer is never justified in resorting to offensive or abusive language or excessive force. 8. Crime can be controlled through proactive approaches intended to prevent offenses from occurring, or through reactive approaches intended to detect the crime after it has occurred, and identify, apprehend, and prosecute the offender. 9. Crime prevention has been defined as the anticipation, recognition, and appraisal of a crime risk and the initiation of some action to remove or reduce= that risk. 10 10. The 1990, definition of crime prevention a pattern of attitudes and behaviors directed at reducing the threat of crime and enhancing the sense of safety and security to positively influence the quality of life in our society and to develop environments where crime cannot flourish= lends itself to community-oriented policing. 11. Community-oriented policing is a philosophy aimed at crime prevention by promoting organizational strategies that support the systematic use of partnerships and problemsolving techniques, to proactively address the immediate conditions that give rise to public safety issues such as crime, social disorder, and fear of crime. 12. The SARA model is a major conceptual vehicle that allows officers to think about problem solving in a structured and disciplined way. SARA stands for Scanning, Analysis, Response, and Assessment. 13. Crime prevention must be a cost effective, measurable, planned effort which includes high visibility of law enforcement officers and interaction with members of the community; an emphasis on high crime areas; a commitment by each individual officer to execute his or her duties to the best of his or her ability; and competent direction from the command staff. 14. Some specialized crime prevention strategies that agencies may undertake include the presentation of or participation in formal programs such as D.A.R.E. Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Block Parents, Operation Identification; and, Neighborhood Watch., 15. Officers may be asked to participate in non-enforcement activities as part of the agencies crime prevention efforts. Some of these include conducting home or business security surveys or educating the public on steps they can take to help avoid becoming a victim.