NCJ Number
196284
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 29 Issue: 7 Dated: July 2002 Pages: 16-20
Date Published
July 2002
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article focuses on police patrolling in an off-road environment.
Abstract
In 1993, the San Diego Sheriff’s Department implemented an Off-Road Enforcement Team (ORET) to patrol in rough terrain. The Sheriff’s Department is proactive in its use of Level 1 reserve officers. These reserves are able to make arrests, write tickets, take reports, and answer radio calls just like a regular deputy. Reserve deputies with the ORET are required to donate a certain amount of time to the job -- about two 10-hour shifts a month. A monthly 4-hour training meeting is also required, as well as qualify shooting quarterly requirements. Because of the awkward hours, a public hotline was developed to give the public a way to report off-road problems. This also allows the team to document a list of hot areas where the public is experiencing the most problems. The team is on-call for disasters or to assist the search-and-rescue unit for life-threatening situations. Some of the typical off-road offenses are noise violations, fire hazards, illegal dumping, illegal shooting, trespassing with motor vehicles, illegal hunting, abandoning stolen vehicles, and undocumented alien trafficking. Public education is also a major duty of this team. There is a very positive relationship between the ORET and the public that they serve. The San Diego Off-Road Coalition has been very supportive of grant requests for funding of new equipment for the ORET. The team also works with environmental groups as well. The funding for the ORET comes from the State Parks OHV (Off-Highway Vehicle) Division, who receives its funding from the registration of off-road vehicles and State gas tax funds. The GMC Yukon, off-road, four-door, 4x4, is one of the most valuable tools for this team. They have a cage in the rear to transport prisoners and are good for carrying emergency equipment. Handheld and vehicle radios are the normal communications methods used by the team.