Policy Text
Field Services Page 1 of 2 01/10 (REV 1/04)
Patrol Officer
The purpose of this order is to outline the duties and responsi bilities of the field services
patrol officer. I. General
The patrol officer, a Sheriff' s Deputy, under the direct superv ision of a patrol
sergeant, shall be accountable fo r any assignment and shall be ready at all times
to answer calls-for-service and to obey the orders of superiors . A patrol officer
will work in partnership with t he community. He will work with the community to
identify the needs and develop str ategies to resolve the proble ms of the
community.
II. Responsibilities
Arrests violators of laws and ordinances; responds to calls for service, taking
appropriate investigative/enforce ment action; prepares reports; reports and/or
investigates suspicious, unusual, or hazardous conditions; test ifies in court;
assists other agencie s when necessary; pro vides first aid in em ergencies;
searches, transports, and books pr isoners; performs related dut ies as assigned.
III. Reporting for duty
The patrol officer shall be pr esent in the required uniform wit h required
equipment at the start of briefing. The officer shall be accoun table for the
information supplied at briefi ng, on the posted bulletin boards , or in the crime
bulletin in the assigned patrol briefing binder.
IV. Patrolling the district
The patrol officer shall:
A. Proceed to the assigned ar ea without unnecessary delay.
B. Leave assigned area only on offi cial business or under appro ved
circumstances, immediately return ing to the assigned area after such
business.
Field Services Page 2 of 2 01/10 (REV 1/04) C. Actively patrol the assigned area and initiate pro-active co mmunity
policing activities when not d ispatched on calls or operating u nder the
direction of a supervisor.
D. Make a tour of the assigned area, inspecting places of busin ess when
possible, and frequently checking hazardous places or locations of
recurrent criminal activity.
E. Become thoroughly familiar wit h the area, including location s of fire
stations, hospitals, schools, places of public assembly, offici al buildings,
and high crime areas.
F. Investigate crimes observed or assigned, interviewing compla inants,
witnesses, informants, and suspec ts whenever possible, satisfyi ng all
parties concerned to the degree c onsistent with good police pra ctices.
G. Report anything that is observed which is likely to prove da ngerous or a
potential police problem.
H. Be alert to conditions which might adversely affect the phys ical or moral
welfare of the citizens in the area.
I. Give attention to any compl aint, call for assistance, arrest or other duty,
attending to such duty with busin esslike dispatch, courtesy and without
unnecessary loss of time.
J. Operate the patrol vehicle in accordance with the vehicle co de, general
orders and operations orders.
K. Complete and/or dictate to w ord processing a ll reports invol ving arrests,
suspect information, or requiri ng immediate follow-up, turning in necessary
portions prior to the end of shift.
L. Issue traffic citations when o fficer(s) deem it necessary du e to actions by
driver. Keeping in mind that the California highway patrol has primary
responsibility for tr affic enforcement.
M. Perform any other dutie s as assigned by supervisors.