Unit 5: Written Examination Preparation

Approaching The Residence

If no one is observed leaving the area, continue at a slow speed toward the caller’s residence. You should know your beat well enough to be able to tell which side of the street the house will be on.

Randomly check house numbers on the opposite side of the street to determine the approximate location of the house. By knowing the sequence in which the houses are numbered, you can project ahead and identify the caller’s residence.

Never use the patrol vehicle’s spotlight to check addresses. The bright spotlight flashing across a house may warn the prowler of your approach. Instead, use a flashlight to locate the address. It may be desirable to hold your fingers over the flashlight lens to further restrict the brightness of the light.

All follow up officers should be advised where you will be located and from which direction they should approach. Ideally, one officer should approach from each end of the street with a third officer behind the residence on a parallel street. The prowler’s opportunities to escape without being seen are, therefore, greatly reduced.

Turn off the engine of the patrol vehicle well down the block and coast to a stop several houses away from the caller’s residence. Avoid striking overhanging tree limbs with the antenna of the patrol vehicle and running over dried leaves, debris in the gutter, or manhole covers. As you tum the engine off, unlatch the driver’s door and hold it closed until you stop. This will enable you to exit quietly from the patrol vehicle. When coming to a stop, use the emergency brake to complete the stop. lf the foot brake is applied, the flash of the brake lights may warn the prowler. Remove the ignition key and place it in your pocket so that it will not be accidentally lost or dropped. Leaving the key in the ignition may invite the prowler to make his getaway via the police vehicle.

Move quickly and quietly along the front of the adjacent houses to the comer of the caller’s residence. Walk on the lawn where possible to eliminate the sound of your shoes scraping on the hard surface of the driveway or sidewalk.

Take advantage of shadows to conceal your position and await the arrival of a follow up officer. When the second officer is in position, proceed along opposite sides of the house to the rear yard.