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BUREAU OF POLICE 401 N CENTRE ST POTTSVILLE PA 17901 PH#(570)622-1234 FAX#(570)622-3524  |
| On this page: | Patrol Officer's Mission | Motor Patrol | Bicycle Patrol | Foot Patrol |
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THE PATROL OFFICER'S MISSION
Officers of the Patrol Division spend much of their time on the lookout for criminal activity and potential disturbances, traffic violations and hazards, dangerous situations and conditions, and people in need of assistance. Patrol officers are the first to respond in the event of emergencies, disturbances, crimes, traffic problems or accidents. Whenever possible they will handle the situation with whatever immediate action is appropriate, perform follow-up investigations or make referrals as necessary.
The majority of incidents are handled from start to finish by the initially responding Patrol officers, however, the Patrol Division can call upon a variety of specialized resources within the Bureau of Police when appropriate. Patrol officers also make full use of community resources to assist with their mission, and invest as much time as possible in maintaining the Bureau's most direct link with the public it serves.
MOTOR PATROL
Officers assigned to motor patrol handle the majority of calls for police services, whether crimes or accidents, and perform the lion's share of traffic control duties.
The Patrol Division utilizes a small fleet of vehicles to perform its functions. There are traditionally marked patrol cars which act to suppress unlawful activity as well as make it easier to locate a police officer when in need, and unmarked cars which provide a less obvious presence.
The traditionally marked police vehicles, including four wheel drive vehicles and vehicles specifically equipped for supervisors, perform the majority of patrol and routine traffic control duties. Patrol officers use them to cover as much of the City as possible, responding quickly to calls for assistance, and constantly on the watch for conditions and activities requiring police action. You may see them driving through side streets and alleys at three in the morning, or monitoring traffic near the schools to protect the students leaving in the afternoon. They are also seen responding with lights flashing and sirens wailing to reach accidents and emergencies where seconds count.
The unmarked vehicles are used when high visibility is not required - or desired, particularly for surveillance or stake-out type situations, or to provide a better chance to apprehend criminals as they commit their crimes.
BICYCLE PATROL
The Pottsville Bureau of Police was one of the first city police departments in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to establish a Bicycle Patrol Program. The purpose of the Bike Patrol is to take police officers out of the shells of their patrol vehicles and make them more accessible to the public they serve. Once in operation, participating officers soon learned that patrolling busy city streets was easier and quicker on a bicycle than in the big patrol vehicles. They also learned that citizens, particularly young people, established an easy rapport with them when they patrolled the city neighborhoods on bicycles.
Since its inception, the cadre of Bicycle Patrol officers has expanded to a dozen officers working Bike Patrol assignments on a part-time basis.
FOOT PATROL
Patrol Division officers can be found almost any time of the day or night walking foot beats, particularly in the downtown area. These officers are able to keep a closer contact with the people and can get a good sense of what's happening in the community by getting to know the residents, business owners, and visitors on a more personal basis.
There are often situations where people don't want to 'bother the police' about an on-going problem with a phone call through a dispatcher, but would feel much more comfortable talking to a police officer in person. The foot patrol officer, just like the 'cop on the beat' of old times, provides the opportunity to do just that.
Foot patrol is used to provide closer and more detailed coverage for specific 'problem' locations when necessary, or during special events, such as the annual Mayfair.
