Small & Alone

My agency is small. I
remember years ago when I first started I had been there for less than a year
and I was the only one in the city on patrol for most of the shift. Everyone else had to write a major report on
an incident that happened the previous day and so it was just me. There are many things to do differently when
working alone.

Call off all your activity. Dispatch should always know where you are and what you are doing. Even if you are just patrolling around, check
in every 30 minutes with your status and location. Call off every traffic stop with your
location and the license plate number, call off a description of the vehicle if
there is not license plate.

Use extra caution to stop vehicles in well lighted areas
where it is difficult for the suspect to assault you without being seen. Make vehicle occupant or pedestrian contacts
where you can be seen by the public. You
may not expect much help if you are attacked, but most of the time someone will
make a phone call on your behalf if you get in trouble. High visibility is a good idea most of the
time when you are alone, that’s what the SGT Says.