Patrol Issues
The Patrol Issues topic page offers news, commentary, analysis, and tactical tips that will help prepare police officers for life on the thin blue line.
From “Hill Street Blues” to “Miami Vice,” 1980s police dramas mixed realism, spectacle and pure fantasy — with only a few getting it right
Officers reveal the practical, personal and unexpected items they rely on to get through the job
What Police1’s “What Cops Want” data reveal about what happens when officers are constantly playing catch-up — and what it means for performance, safety and retention
Close calls, “safety stupid” mistakes and years on the street shaped one retired police chief’s understanding of what truly keeps cops alive
Kansas City media personality Marcus Officer shares insights from years of working with law enforcement on communication and officer readiness
Law enforcement liaisons serve as force multipliers for officer safety by connecting agencies with traffic safety resources, grant support and lifesaving training
Robert Sorensen joins Policing Matters to discuss why law enforcement agencies must rethink preparation before the next wave of civil unrest
The missteps that can escalate routine encounters into complaints, lawsuits and viral scrutiny
The past speaks to us, if we only listen, and teaches us critical lessons about dealing with highly mobile killers
The proposal would bar LAPD officers from stopping drivers, bicyclists or pedestrians for minor violations unless there is a safety threat
A lot of what “momma says” can make you a better police officer
What officers should do — and avoid — to stay professional, lawful and in control during citizen journalist encounters
Trooper Kevin Trainor was commuting home from his shift shortly before 2 a.m. when his cruiser was struck
A candid look at the transition from officer to leader, the training gaps that hold people back and the habits that set strong supervisors apart
The California-based drone maker is scaling domestic production to meet growing demand from public safety and the military while reducing reliance on foreign supply chains
Anne Arundel County PD leaders say the schedule puts more officers on duty at once, but night-shift fatigue remains a concern for the union
In law enforcement, this position is frequently assumed but rarely trained directly
Not every drone is a threat — but agencies must quickly determine what’s authorized, what’s not and what demands action
Agencies that build formal collaboration channels between patrol, detectives and SROs can solve juvenile cases faster, build stronger cases and achieve better outcomes for youth
Pre-action “jitters” aren’t fear — they’re a biological signal that the body is primed for performance, and leaders who understand it can turn stress into an operational advantage
The questions asked, evidence captured and details documented in the moments after arrest often determine whether a case grows or stalls
A supervisor’s focus on containment, communication and time helped officers manage a knife-wielding man making bomb threats
A shooting outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shows how fast a high-profile event can turn into a critical incident — and what officers must do to be ready
The consensus is there, but the same three excuses are still keeping agencies from acting
As alerts, bulletins and emails multiply, agencies are rethinking how to deliver the right intelligence to the right officer
The six-month program at Arizona State University’s PD evaluates whether EVs can match gas-powered units in performance, durability and response readiness
In small and mid-sized agencies, drug enforcement isn’t about dismantling cartels — it’s about reducing the everyday harms that destabilize communities
The difference between control and chaos often comes down to fundamentals—here’s where officers most often go wrong
Situational awareness isn’t just learned over time — it can be trained; here’s how field training officers can accelerate learning through visualization, behavior analysis and scenario-based training
MOST POPULAR
- Massachusetts State Police officer files 27 reasons for clocking $350K in overtime
- 1 simple strategy for dealing with a driver who refuses to give you their license
- 15 years later, a film retells the West Memphis police murders — and why they still matter
- What Trump’s executive order delivers for law enforcement
- Indianapolis PD to pilot 10-hour shift schedule with alternating 3- and 4-day weekends