Patrol Unit

Uniform Patrol is the backbone of the Norfolk Police Division with all other division supporting the activities of patrol. Uniform Patrol Officers respond to calls for police services as well as taking initial criminal investigative reports. Patrol officers are the first to respond to all critical incidents and are responsible for the handling of the situation until assistance arrives. Uniform Patrol officers place emphasis on cases involving Domestic Violence and Child Abuse investigations. Quick response times to citizen requests are important to the Uniform Patrol Division.

Uniform Patrol is divided into four 12-hour shifts. The "day shift" begins at 6:00 a.m. and runs until 6:00 p.m. The "night shift" runs from 6:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. The shifts, when fully complimented, contain a Sergeant, Corporal and 5 uniform officers.

The City of Norfolk is divided into four separate areas for patrol assignments, northeast, northwest, southwest, and southeast. The areas are based on the total number of calls for service each year in an effort to balance out the work loads for the officers and to add attention to higher reported crime areas. These areas are reviewed annually. Officers are assigned to the same area daily in an effort to keep them familiar with the neighborhood problems.

In addition to routine patrol and directed patrol, officers participate in bicycle patrol, many community relation functions. Patrol officers conduct field training for new officers, firearms training, CPR training, defensive tactics training, and maintain the City of Norfolk jail.