What are the three types of police patrols?

The three types of police patrols are preventive, directed, and reactive patrols, which serve distinct purposes in law enforcement.

Preventive patrols focus on deterring crime through a visible police presence in areas that may be prone to criminal activity. Officers regularly patrolling neighborhoods, business districts, and community hotspots can help prevent potential offenses simply by being present.

Directed patrols involve targeting specific areas or types of crime based on intelligence or crime statistics. This approach enables law enforcement agencies to allocate resources more effectively to high-crime areas or during peak times for certain offenses. Officers may concentrate their efforts on problem-solving or addressing community concerns in these specific locales.

Reactive patrols occur in response to calls for service or incidents that have already happened. Officers respond to emergencies, accidents, or reports of crimes, focusing on addressing the immediate situation and gathering information for investigations.

This classification system emphasizes the different strategies police can employ to effectively manage crime and maintain public safety, aligning with law enforcement principles and practices.