help on patrol techniques

[crabbycancer]

Within the last two years, I have survived both my department's police academy and its FTO program, learning quiet a lot through the process about general patrol. And while I have come up with a couple of solid lockups, I find myself looking for information that will bring my work on the street to another level.

Other officers who patrol either my specific beat, or similar areas in my county, seem like they effortlessly come up with stolen cars, drugs, or even fleeing suspects after a lookout is placed. I often asked them how they honed their skills--to where they attribute their success--to which they reply "it just takes time" or "it's just luck."
And while I'm well aware that most good arrests come when you least expect it, I will not resign myself to thinking it is just a matter of chance. Statisically speaking, there has to be things one can change in his/her patrolling or clues one can look for that will increase the chances of a lockup.

In short, my biggest problem is looking past the traffic ticket. Answers to any of the following would be helpful and greatly appreciated:

1. I'm aware of only a couple books out there that are specific to advanced patrol techniques; the majority of which are published from Calibre Press. Having said that, I have managed to acquire both their "Surviving High Risk Patrol" and "The Tactical Edge" books. Are there any other textbooks that are proven effective at making someone a better *street* cop?

2. Are there any webpages, email lists, or forums that are law-enforcement sensitive which detail information about drugs or trafficking.

3. Any non-sensitive tips that can be posted here would also be appreciated.

Thanks for any help. Stay safe.

[Rjagger]

Things that don't fit or add up are usually worth checking out.

[NYPDHWY]

In my 14 years on the job, 1 thing I learned is, there is no manuel that can teach you everything. Expierience and time are the best teachers. Keep your eyes and ears open to your surroundings and eventually you will know when something isn't right. The first thing I always tell the younger less expierienced officers is, going home at the end of your shift is proroty #1. Stay safe!

[Garbage Man]

I know exactly whay you mean. there seems to be officers that are just S-magnets.

One good cop I knew used to watch mini-marts next to freeways on the theory that when a crew heads out to do crimes they pull off the freeway and talk over their gameplan somewhere near where they are going to capper. He would watch the local AM/PM and when he saw a bunch of crook types hanging out talking he would follow them. He cought some guys doing a residential robbery with that technique once.

Over all though I suspect that what the S-magnets are really doing is stopping everything that walks or drives, but only put it out on the radio when its a good arrest. That makes it look like they are just hanging around waiting when they get the good arrests. Its kind of like being a duck, on the surface you look calm and still but under it you are kicking like hell.

I am not recommending this tactic, because it means you are making a lot of off air contacts and I think thats way too dangerous, I am merely trying to offer my explanation of how they do what they do.

[Garbage Man]

disregard this I quoted instead of editing

[hooahmedic]

Talk to people. You'll get a lot further when you talk to people. Look for furtive gestures. Looking away or target glancing. Question people seperately, allows you to get differant stories. Make a traffic stop, think past the ticket. Ask for concent to search. Don't have to do into great depth at first but if you find something, then tear it apart.

Don't just get stuck on those stop with those who "look like turds". More drug dealers out there who are wearing business suits and trying to blend in with every day people.

Read Calibre Press' "Tactics for Criminal Patrol". An outstanding book. A lot tips in there on developing good stops and making them good arrests.

[Bodie]

Set some training aside. start looking around you and looking for something that doesn't seem "right". that out of place car, those eyes watching you more then you watch them and those that avoid your glance. Things that don't fit usually aren't "RIGHT".

Develope your street smarts, Think like the people you are trying to bust etc.

Some rookies are so good at finding drugs and criminals that you wonder at times what they did before they were rookies.

You got to be STREET SMART.

[JB2245]

I agree with what your senior officer said when he said, "It takes time." It also depends on what kind of neigborhood you're patroling and if you have a partner or not. You don't want to be investigating a group of 10 dope dealers on the street if you're by yourself. I work in the ghetto, and can honestly tell you that after I had about four years on the street, I could read people like a book. It's the slightest thing that will give someone away that is carrying a gun, selling dope, or driving a stolen car or someone that just got done robbing a bank for that matter. Their eyes tell you everything. If they look nervous and won't make eye contact with you, more than likely they have something to hide. If you see them standing in the street/sidewalk and they suddenly look up and see you coming towards them and immediately start walking away, they more than likely have something to hide. If you are close enough to see their face and surprise them when they suddenly look at you, say from a vehicle for instance and they give you that "oh ****" look, they more than likely have something to hide. It's little things like that that give away a criminal 9 times out of 10. All of this is from working in the inner city of course. I've never worked in a rural environment, suburb, etc, so I'm sure they have different things they look for at those agencies.

[IPDBrad]

The one thing I have found is that if there seems to be something fishy or not right, respond. Don't think it out, go with that feeling and respond, you have probably seen the beginning of some activity that you can't yet articulate because you haven't thought about it and put it in words. However, you recognize it and just need to respond.

I have noticed this and find I am much more successful in acting and letting the verbage of what I saw catch up with my senses after.

If you try to think out what your instincts are telling you then you may miss an opportunity.

[BayCityBrawler]

In General, when someone is trying to act like your best friend (except little kids and cop wannabe's) something is up, there is a reason there acting so nice. When you make a stop, and the driver or patrons exit the car before u even reach it or without asking them to, generally they are trying to keep you away from the car cause they are hiding something. Also the "I'm lost" excuse they give immediately upon approach to the car before you even have a chance to explain why you stopped them usually indicates they are trying to take control of your opinion of them as just a mere wandering person, when someone try's to dictate your actions, u change the subject quick with something a bad guy would be uncomfortable with! Also if someone calls u BOSS, its generally a good sign they are an ex-con, for all yous who dont know BOSS stand for Stupid Son Of a B*tch backwards its their way of passively insulting you!

[jdgeroy]

Those who work for the good cases, get the good cases.

If it doesn't feel right, it isn't, start working the case...consent, plain view, Terry Frisk (if appropriate), Hell I've flat out asked them where it is and have them give it up.

Don't ask the S t magnets what they are doing, work with them and watch what they are doing.

Can't learn it from books, (some of the bad guys can read too). Keep doing it and it will click.

[hcso527]

ever stop a car full of old women for a tail light or some little infraction and have no real intention of writing them when you stop them? when i first started i was gung ho like any new guy, out to set the world on fire and catch all the criminal's in my first week. then i got to running around with some of the old dogs that might make 3 stops a night and usualy get somthing worth while. i learned that while stopping a lot of speeders or people with lights out or things like that is fine and all i was usually busy with them a real criminal went by. now im not knocking working speed or things like that beacuse good things come from that too. but if you run radar all day and make 20 stops you might get 1 or two $hitheads and the rest will be decent folks just going somewhere. these officers probably always seem like they get good ones because they pick their contacts better. that is the part that has to be learned. in my county like anywhere else theres plenty of drugs. a man with 5 drug arrests in a month is good but a man who catchs a thief is always looked upon kindly by the brass. as time passes you will learn to choose better who needs f&*ked with and who deserves a break. as usual this is just my opinion guys and my way of doing things so dont bust my chops if you disagree.

[hcso527]

right on hooahmedic

[MickM]

I agree with all the other members. Experience and having good teachers is a must. Pick out all the good traits from the more experienced members and disregard the bad traits. You will not catch a crook sitting in the station drinking coffee. Some crooks will give themselves up but not many.
Ask a lot of questions.
If you do a regular beat or patrol get to know the people who are always in the same place at the same time. I dont know how big your area is but get to know people like:
Delivery people who deliver to areas at the same time and place they know who and what should be where at any given time.
Newspaper sellers and delivery boys
Owners of 24 hour stores like 7/11 etc
Bar workers and owners
Hotel/motel owners
Hotel bus boys etc
Coffee shop cafe waiters
I could go on. These type of people know whats happening on the street and possess a wealth of information. If you can get their confidence, trust and respect you will be amazed what they can tell you. Take 5 minutes out to stop and have a chat with them. All the scientific CSI Forensic type stuff is great but it cannot replace good grass roots street level police contacts. Most cops arrest people for serious crimes because of networking and information received from contacts. They dont have to be snitches/informers just normal people who trust you.
Finally dont make a promise you cant keep or backflip anyone. If you say you are going to arrest someone then do it. Always follow up your threats. Cops who are all mouth and no susbstance soon lose respect with the crooks.

And yes some guys are lucky but you must make your own luck. The bad guys are out there.

Anyway I hope that helps

Mick

[Spiderman]

The common thread seems to be, "If it doesn't fit..." Brings to mind a stop I made one night. I was heading back to the P.D. when I saw tail lights about 3/4 mile up the road. It was about 0330 so I decided to check them out. There were two adult males and what appeared to be an underaged female inside. I followed the pickup for about two miles looking for a legal reason to light it up. I was finally able to make out the license plate (it was very dirty) and found that the registration was expired. Once I stopped the truck, I was stunned to find a Harley laying on it's side in the bed. Now, I don't know how much contact you've had with HD owners (my family has ridden since 1923), but they don't just lay their bike down on purpose. Especially in the bed of a truck where it can get A.F.U. I ran the plate on the truck and the bike but everything came up clean. After exhausting everything I could to look into that bike, I had to let them go or face an unlawful detention complaint.

Low and behold, the next morning the bike was reported stolen. Fortunately, I got a good i.d. of the occupants, knew where they hung-out and who I could lean on. We recovered tbe bike about four days later. The point is...if it don't seem right, it probably ain't.

[Denton_Lawman]

It takes awhile to really start to notice things that aren't "right". And like everyone has pretty much touched on, you have to act on all the things that look out of the ordinary.

For example, the other day I'm cruising the 'hood and I come to a stop sign going south. A car going east has no stop sign but stops like he wants me to go. I patiently wait for him to go and he finally does. Then after about 10 feet of me behind him he pulls into an apartment complex. Problem is he pulls straight towards a chain link fence.... nowhere to go. Hmmm that doesn't look right. Watch him in my side mirror and he backs up, drives the lot and goes back the way he originally was going. I whip around and pull him over for........ failing to signal his turn coming out of the parking lot. He tells me he was driving to the store, then changed his mind and was going to go back home so he could walk to the store.... uh huh. Didn't end up getting anything out of that, but that's the stuff you gotta watch for. Keep hitting things like that and you'll have things fall in your lap.

Have fun man..... it's all a big game... just gotta know how to play it :D

[wuztpd105]

Remember the duck rule- if it walks like a duck, talks like a duck and hangs out with ducks, then its probably a duck. Don't let people fool you.

[Nobody]

or ducks....




just be curious about everything. it's a target rich environment out there

[Nobody]

.

[sixpanel]

LOL

[sixpanel]

LOL

[Danny Ponder]

Try this and see what happens. Establish PC to pull over at least 5 cars in one night. At least one of the five is going to be doing something wrong. Now that's working the minority section of town not upper middle class. But try it and let me know.

[PhilipCal]

You've got a great thread started,and really gotten some great advice too. Not much I can add. When I was a young Deputy Sheriff many years ago, I worked with a guy who was at the end of age limit for appointment. (37yoa). He was a rock in the Academy,and turned out to be one of the best auto theft detectives I 've ever seen. I've been a state cop over 20 years, and most of you guys know what we do a lot of, and that's traffic. Maybe you like working traffic,maybe you don't, but I'm here to tell you many, many good solid felony arrests are made as a result of a good traffic stop. Yah, we've got some guys who are **&%magnets as one the guys noted, and they seem to fall into more good crap by accident than most of us do on purpose. I can't account for that, it just happens. When you're out there,stay alert, look for stuff that's JDLR-(just don't look right),establish your PC and go to it. Best of luck-stay safe.

[RBrodowski]

Man there's this guy I work with who grew up in the ghetto. He can look at someone and tell if they're wanted, if they're dealing drugs, or if they're doing something wrong and he can't figure out what yet. He usually has the most felony arrests, misdomeanor arrests, physical arrests, and arrest counts. I rode with him once during my FTO period and things fall in his lap.

I saw someone passing on a double yellow, turned around on him and lost him. I found the truck unoccupied in a nearby complex and ran the VIN (since it had a driveout tag). Well nothing came back. An hour later radio sent me a message on my MDT (computer) stating that the vehicle I ran earlier was just reported stolen. Unfortunatly the bad guys got away, but someone got their truck back.

I'll admit I'm near ignorant on street smarts. I grew up in a upper-middle class suburban home not exposed to anything like we're exposed to in this job. I'm still learning and learning the hard way sometimes. I know someone's probably gotten away because I just hadn't seen something another officer would've, but they'll get their's one day.

The biggest thing I have to get over is making excuses for people and why they're doing certain things. I'm still learning and try to act differently when I'm on the road.

[ptcop531]

Lots of good advice. Time is a great teacher. Follow your first instincts. Those are usually the correct ones.

Oh, yeah, some people lie to cops, so do not always believe the first story told you.

[rsolita]

THIS BOOK IS FILLED WITH TIPS AND CLUES ON HOW TO CATCH THE BAD GUY AND WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHILE ON PATROL. THE ADVICE IS BLENDED INTO A NOVEL AND VERY ENTERTAINING AT THAT. YOU MUST CHECK OUT THIS BOOK IF YOU NEW ON THE JOB. THE AUTHOR HAS OVER TWENTY YEARS ON THE CPD IN THE GANG UNIT. THIS BOOK IS MIND BOGGLING TO JOE THE NEW GUY.

[crabbycancer]

Thanks for the tip on that book, as it seems like just the thing I've been looking for. I did a quick search on the net for it, without any results though. Can you advise a publisher or retailer? Thanks in advance.

[lsmalibu]

Don't listen to him, CrabbyCancer, his book is terrible.

IT'S HARD TO READ A BOOK IF IT'S WRITTEN IN ALL CAPS!!! MAYBE THAT'S WHY RSOLITA CAN'T GET A PUBLISHER, BECAUSE THE PRINTERS RUN OUT OF CAPITAL LETTERS TRYING TO PRINT IT.