I agree that foot patrol does work. However, while...

2010-03-12T19:56:45.264-05:00

I agree that foot patrol does work. However, while it has undeniably worked largely in NYC, in the two years I've lived in Washington Heights and Inwood, it's been incredibly rare to spot police officers (unless they are plainclothes officers conducting raids)in general, let alone actually on the two feet that God gave them. I don't think I've ever seen a group of or single officer(s) walking a beat on 145th street and above in Manhattan.

PCM: Having been born and raised in Philly (now li...

2010-03-12T09:35:44.940-05:00

PCM:
Having been born and raised in Philly (now living in Ft. Wayne, IN), I remmeber the foot patrols we used to have.
The call boxes along the telephone poles...the knowledge that whatever officer was "walking the beat" knew damn near everyone ON his beat, so that enabled the officer a unique perspective as a LEO, or even as acting to negotiate a simple dispute.

Even as children, we felt a LOT more protected as a result.
Glad to see they're returning to this.

Time was, it used to be that officers LIVED in areas they used to patrol.
Today, it's 8 hrs in the "badlands", then back to the burbs...all behind the wheel of the sector car.
Can't get to KNOW an area as well that way, can you?

I've felt for a LONG time that the "detachment" from driving a cruiser kept the populace "at arm's length", as it were.
There is a form of "intimacy" involved with working a specific neighborhood (or beat) that simply cannot be achieved with a drive-by.

Good post.

Stay safe.

Comments on Cop in the Hood: Foot Patrol Working in Philly

I agree that foot patrol does work. However, while...

PCM: Having been born and raised in Philly (now li...