bike patrol
Officers patrol an assigned area on bicycle rather than in a patrol car.
crackdown
An enforcement effort targeting a specific violation of the law.
differential response to calls for service
The police response to calls for service varies according to the type and severity of the call.
directed patrol
Officers patrol strategically to address a specific crime problem.
evidence-based policing
Using available scientific research on policing to implement crime fighting strategies and department policies.
foot patrol
Police officers walk a beat or assigned area rather than patrolling in a motor vehicle.
hot spot
An area receiving a high volume of calls for service.
Kansas City patrol study
The first study conducted to test the effectiveness of random routine patrol.
Newark foot patrol study
A study conducted to determine the effectiveness of foot patrol officers in preventing crime.
omnipresence
The impression of always being there.
police paramilitary unit (PPU)
A term popularized in the late 1990s to refer to police units organized in a more militaristic manner (such as SWAT teams), with their primary function to threaten or use force collectively.
police pursuit policies
Policies regulating the circumstances and conditions under which the police should pursue or chase motorists driving at high speeds in a dangerous manner.
police pursuits
The attempt by law enforcement to apprehend alleged criminals in a moving motor vehicle when the driver is trying to elude capture and increases speed or takes evasive action.
predictive policing
The application of crime analysis, data analysis, and statistical predictions to identify targets for police attention, also called forecasting.
random routine patrol
Officers driving around a designated geographic area.
rapid response to citizens' calls to 911
Officers being dispatched to calls immediately, regardless of the type of call.
red light cameras
Automated cameras mounted on poles at intersections. The cameras are triggered when a vehicle enters the intersection after the light has turned red. The camera records the violation and the license plate number. A citation and the photos are sent to the
retroactive investigation of past crimes by detectives
The follow-up investigation of crimes by detectives that occurs after a crime has been reported.
saturation patrol
Assigning a larger number of uniformed officers than normal to an area to deal with a particular crime problem.
Saturation Policing Responses (SPRs)
A tailored law enforcement response to individuals with mental illness that involves trained first responders and prioritizes crisis de-escalation and treatment over arrest and incarceration.
smart policing
A funding initiative from the Bureau of Justice Administration that partners local law enforcement agencies with academics to develop and evaluate solutions to chronic crime problems.
split-force patrol
A method in which the patrol force is split; half responds to calls for service and the other half performs directed patrol activities.
swatting
A growing and dangerous trend in making a hoax call to incite a SWAT deployment or other law enforcement response.