Specialized patrol functions such as sting operations, SWAT teams, and drug enforcement are vital parts of an efficient law enforcement organization. The law enforcement officers that participate in these functions have special training in dealing with special circumstances. They have more practice and skills in the operations they conduct and make the whole organization more efficient.

An example of a successful specialized patrol function is the “Community Resource Program” in Greensboro, North Carolina. This program has organized four officers and one sergeant from each precinct in the city to be apart of a task force. The task force is responsible for identifying major crime problems within the city.  The program has been successful at pinpointing and addressing many problems that are of concern to the community. ("Community Policing and Planning," 2001)

Specially trained drug enforcement officers and school resource officers have been shown to have a direct impact in reducing and more effectively dealing with specific types of crime.  For example a drug enforcement officer might be able to more quickly identify if a substance found in a suspect’s possession is an illegal narcotic because of the training they have received.

The use of specialized divisions is more effective in metropolitan areas where there is a larger population and also larger and more diverse criminal activity. The types of specialized divisions also vary based on need. For example large port and border cities such as Miami, and San Diego often have more significant problems with the distribution of illegal narcotics. Those cities have large narcotic task forces.

The argument has been made that some sting and narcotics operations border on entrapment. Law enforcement officers involved in these special operations often use deceptive tactics. However, deception in this circumstance is a necessary evil.

It is my conclusion that specialized patrol functions do serve their intended purpose. These programs have been successful in making law enforcement agencies more efficient and outreaching to the community. The benefits far outweigh the concerns.

References

Adams, Richard. (2001). Community Policing and Planning. Journal of the American Planning Association, 67.

Siegel, Larry., Senna, Joseph. (2005). Introduction to Criminal Justice. Thomson Wadsworth.