Patrol Services

The Patrol Services Division consists of Traffic, K-9 and SWAT units. See the division organizational chart below for the specific structure of this service area.

The police officers assigned to the patrol division are the city’s first line of defense, providing safety and security to the citizens of Allen. Patrol officers work four 10-hour shifts and may be assigned during the day, evening, or night.

Many citizens believe the main duties of patrol officers include answering calls, arresting suspects, and issuing citations. The Allen Police Department is working diligently to dispel these myths. Allen patrol officers take a proactive stance in preventing crimes and embrace the philosophies of “Community Policing”. Officers are encouraged to conduct directed patrols and park and walks to meet with citizens about their concerns and to exemplify the Allen Police Department’s motto of “Serving Our Community”.

Directed patrols increase the visibility and accessibility of patrol officers to the citizens of Allen. In an effort to reduce crime and traffic accidents, officers routinely patrol areas of the city that require “special attention”. Citizens are encouraged to call the police department to request directed patrols. The repeated presence of police officers in a specific area can reduce crime and the speed of vehicles traveling through that area.

In 2006, Allen police officers answered 165,156 calls for service that included 72,321 dispatched calls, 79,334 directed patrols, and 13,501 park and walks.

Patrol Services Organizational Chart