Patrol Operations consists of sworn police officers dedicated to maintaining a positive educational environment for the Mizzou community. Patrol officers maintain a pro-active, problem-solving philosophy that focuses on community contact and increased communication. This approach supports crime prevention and helps identify community needs.

MUPD officers have full powers of arrest in accordance with Missouri Revised Statutes and provide essential services to the campus community 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Officers working patrol are assigned to one of three shifts. Each shift is commanded by a Lieutenant who is responsible for the direct supervision of commissioned police officers assigned to their shift, non-commissioned Security Officers, Communications Operators and Campus Safety Officers working during their shift assignment, unless on a special assignment designated by special order. The shift Lieutenants report directly to the Patrol Captain. In the absence of the Lieutenant, a Patrol Sergeant will be designated as the shift supervisor. In the absence of both the Lieutenant and Sergeant, a previously approved and trained Officer in Charge (OIC) may be designated as the shift supervisor.

Responsibilities of patrol include, but are not limited to, general enforcement (state laws, local ordinances, and university regulations) and traffic enforcement, uniformed patrol services (vehicle, foot, and bicycle patrols), incident investigations, crime and accident reconstruction and investigation, traffic control and physical security. Officers assigned to patrol also work campus events, home athletic activities and participate in crime prevention and community policing programs.

Officers receive required police academy training in compliance with Missouri State Statue for certified peace officers and continuous training in compliance with Missouri’s Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). Officers receive training in a variety of areas including de-escalation techniques, cultural diversity, crisis intervention, active threat response, constitutional and statutory law, defense tactics, firearms and weapons proficiency, search and seizure, drug and substance awareness and much more.