Police Sergeant Practice Exam

The Kansas City Preventive Patrol Experiment demonstrated that traditional patrol strategies do what?

1. Reduce crime rates significantly

2. Increase community trust in police

3. Have little effect on crime levels and public security

4. Enhance officer safety during patrol

The correct answer is: Have little effect on crime levels and public security

The Kansas City Preventive Patrol Experiment was a landmark study in policing that fundamentally challenged many assumptions about traditional patrol strategies. The study revealed that varying the levels of police patrol—by increasing, decreasing, or even eliminating routine patrols in some neighborhoods—did not significantly affect crime rates or the public's perception of safety. As a result, the experiment showed that simply having a visible police presence on the streets through traditional patrol did not necessarily translate into a reduction in crime or an increase in public security. This finding highlighted that community safety and crime levels are influenced by more complex factors than merely the amount of patrol activity. It emphasized the need for modern law enforcement agencies to adopt more innovative and community-oriented approaches to policing rather than relying solely on traditional methods. Therefore, the conclusion drawn from this experiment—that traditional patrol strategies have little effect on crime levels and public security—serves as a critical insight for police departments and policymakers when evaluating the effectiveness of various policing methodologies.