Patrol Section

There are approximately 70 officers working the frontline; they are the first responders to the public's calls for police service. It is the uniformed patrol officers that provide the visible policing presence on the Delta streets, focusing its resources in order to address the problems which present the greatest risk to the community. The patrol section operates under a newly implemented team-based service delivery model.

Responsibilities of the Patrol officers encompass the protection of life and property, prevention and detection of crime, maintenance of the public peace and the enforcement of municipal, provincial and federal statutes.

Structure

The uniformed patrol officers are the largest group of officers in the Department and are divided into four teams known as platoons. Three duty officers are responsible for the overall operations of the four platoons.

Each platoon is headed by a staff sergeant, assisted by two sergeants who support and supervise constables assigned to their platoon.

Response

• High priority incidents:
• Missing person (child or suspicious circumstances)
• 911 calls for assistance
• Motor vehicle collisions where there is information indicating that there are injuries or alcohol involvement
• Crimes in progress
• Impaired drivers observed driving dangerously
• Break and enter
• Robbery/hold up alarms
• Theft
• Threats to life/property
• Other incidents dispatched as non-emergency:
• Commercial and residential alarms
• Suspicious persons and vehicles
• Thefts/mischief
• Driving and parking complaints
• Motor vehicle accident with no injuries
• Lost and found property
• Noise/disturbance complaints
• Nuisance calls

Officers in patrol liaise with members assigned to other sections within the Department in an effort to share information, gather intelligence and carry out an effective approach to an identified problem.

Did you know?

• When you see an emergency vehicle operating its lights and sirens, you are required to yield the right of way and immediately pull over to the nearest shoulder and stop
• Patrol officers work a four day rotation of 12 hours per shift starting with two dayshifts and finish with two night shifts
• All police officers must be re-certified annually in the use of firearms as required by the Police Act
• At the start of every shift the oncoming patrol officers are briefed on the events over the past 12 to 24 hours
• In the province of British Columbia police officers do not lay charges. Police officers collect information, facts and evidence and submit a report recommending charges. It is Crown Counsel that determines if charges are to be formally laid
• Patrol officers carry out special enforcement projects throughout the year including:
  
  
• Zero tolerance drug and alcohol enforcement projects in the Spring and Fall to discourage substance abuse and related criminal activity
• Plain clothes initiatives on Annacis and Tilbury Island to address commercial crime
• Proactive patrols of parks, schools and beaches utilizing foot patrol, bikes and ATVs
• high profile patrols of licensed premises to discourage impaired driving and identify potential gang activity
• Partnerships with municipal departments:
• Traffic - advisory meetings are held with Delta Engineering to discuss current traffic issues such as traffic calming (speed reduction, e.g. speed bumps), speed zones, placement of traffic signals and truck traffic
• Bylaws - discussions with Delta Bylaws Department on rezoning, landlord tenancy issues, parking issues, noise complaints
• Parks, recreation facilities - liaise with Delta Parks & Recreation on issues such as trouble with youth complaints, alcohol-related problems and assist with community events (e.g. May Day Parade, North Delta Days Parade, Tsawwassen Sun Festival, Remembrance Day)
• Patrol of parks - This program was developed in cooperation with Parks & Recreation where citizens from the community are hired to patrol Delta parks during the summer. They report on activities such as suspicious behaviour, youth gatherings, damage in progress and liquor-related offences. The program was initiated to make the parks safe for the community.
• The Criminal Intelligence Section provides core intelligence and crime analysis to focus patrol resources effectively through the intelligence-led model.