PATROL DIVISION

The patrol division is comprised of 49 officers, which are assigned to various shifts. Officers are assigned to "teams" for two years and rotate shifts every three months, with the exception of Swing Shift. Listed below are the four patrol shifts:

1. Day shift: 0600 hours to 1500 hours
2. Afternoon shift: 1400 hours to 2300 hours
3. Night shift: 2100 hours to 0600 hours
4. Swing shift: 1800 hours to 0400 hours

PATROL DIVISION

The men and women who work in our patrol division are dedicated to this community. Our uniformed officers are the people that respond to the 9-1-1 calls that you make. They are the front-line community responders for the City of Great Falls.

In 2005, our patrol officers were dispatched to 32,823 incidents. We have service around the clock, 365 days a year. Each of the three patrol teams consists of one Lieutenant, two Sergeants, and ten Officers. These Officers work five days on and have three days off. The swing shift patrol team consists of one Sergeant, and four Officers. Officers on this shift have set days off, Sunday through Tuesday.

Patrol officers are responsible for answering calls for service, patrolling assigned areas, investigating motor vehicle collisions, enforcing traffic and criminal statutes, and completing written reports and other documents as required. Some patrol officers are also members of the HRU (High Risk Unit) team and can be called away from patrol if a high risk call emerges.

Our new officers spend their first 14 weeks on patrol with a Field Training Officer. The FTO's are on-the-job teachers and mentors for the officers that have just completed the Montana Law Enforcement Academy in Helena, MT. The Patrol Shift Supervisor can be reached at (406) 771-1180.