What should officers aim to achieve with proactive patrol?

Proactive patrol aims primarily at proactive community engagement, which involves officers taking initiative to interact positively with community members before any incidents occur. This approach fosters a sense of safety and trust within the community, allows officers to build relationships, and encourages collaboration to address potential issues before they escalate.

Through proactive engagement, officers can gather vital information about community concerns and help deter criminal activity by being present in neighborhoods. This strategy contrasts with a solely incident-driven policing method, where responses occur only after a crime has been reported, thereby missing opportunities for prevention and community relationship building.

The focus on community engagement also leads to a more comprehensive understanding of the social dynamics and needs within a neighborhood, promoting a community-oriented policing model that emphasizes crime prevention and quality of life improvements.