Patrol, Observation, and Reporting
The Patrol Mindset
Good patrol is systematic, visible, and documented. A guard should understand patrol patterns (fixed post, foot patrol, vehicle patrol, interior/exterior), the value of randomized timing to avoid predictability, and the purpose of deterrence through presence. Know the elements of a good post order: what to check, when, how to report, and what not to do.
Observation Skills
Understand the difference between fact and inference. A report says "the east door was ajar approximately two inches at 2310 hours," not "someone probably broke in." Train the habit of capturing time, location, description, action, and disposition. Know the limits of human perception: stress and darkness narrow attention, eyewitness identification is fallible, and cross-contamination of memory happens when witnesses compare stories.
Report Writing Standards
Reports must be objective, chronological, complete, and written promptly. Avoid conclusions, slang, and speculation; use quotation marks for exact statements. Note who else was present and what evidence was preserved. Know that reports are discoverable - they may be read in court or by regulators - so accuracy and professionalism matter.
Traps in Questions
- Choosing the answer that "sounds helpful" but adds opinion or guesswork.
- Omitting the time or the disposition (what was done about the problem).
- Writing a report days later from memory.
- Describing a suspect with conclusions ("looked suspicious") rather than observable behavior.
Rule of Thumb
If you did not see, hear, smell, or touch it, it is not an observation - it is a conclusion.
Worked Example
Weak: "Suspicious man loitering near cars, probably casing them." Strong: "At 0145 hours, a male, approximately 30 years old, 5'10", dark jacket, walked slowly between rows C and D, stopping at each vehicle and pulling door handles. He left northbound on foot at 0152 when I approached. Police notified at 0153; incident number noted."