Pasadena Tactical Patrol

The Pasadena Police Department Tactical Patrol Squad unit identifies various community crime and social disorder problems as they arise and develops a plan of action to address the problem through pro-active police work in the City of Pasadena.  In Pasadena, some geographical areas are more susceptible to crime than others are.  Many of the crimes committed are not part of large-scale criminal rings or conspiracies, but rather street level crimes that affect the quality of life of the residents.  With the ability to be flexible, the Tactical Patrol Squad may address specific areas as needed.  The theory behind this approach follows the “Broken Windows” theory in law enforcement, small disorder leads to bigger problems.  When petty criminal activity is allowed to grow, it leads to a feeling by residents that their community is unsafe.  Over time, property values decline while residents and businesses relocate to areas that are more prosperous.  The Tactical Patrol Squad attempts to deal with these smaller problems immediately before they become larger problems later.  By conducting pro-active operations now, larger reactive measures may be avoided later.  The benefits and results of this program are that the quality of life of the residents is improved, citizens are made to feel safer, and there are improved police-citizen relations. Used as an overtime program, this unit identifies various community problems and large-scale events as they arise and develops a plan of action to address the problem through pro-active crime prevention utilizing community policing practices and standards.