The city of Dallas has a similar program. Neighborhood associations can hire an off duty Dallas Police Officer, a marked car and a radio (That’s the way the contract reads) for, I believe $100.00 for a four hour shift.
The neighborhood in which my brother lives participates in the program. The same officer is assigned each time and he drives around the streets and alleys, passing the house every four minutes or so. He has been doing it for so long that he recognizes the residents by sight and many by name. I met him when the wind blew some tree branches, downing some power lines in the alley. Although I am only an occasional visitor, he always recognizes and acknowledges me and we’ve taken the opportunity to briefly chat a time or two since.
This neighborhood has transitioned from a dump during Love Field’s hey day in the mid to late sixties to a very desirable area in which to live despite the less frequent and less noisy aircraft overflights. It’s hard to quantify the effect that the patrols have on crime in the area because in addition to the patrols, the residents have taken various other steps to secure their neighborhood. One thing is a very proactive neighborhood watch. The second or third time that I was there, the “block captain” walked by the house and saw me adjusting the driveway gate. Later, I found out that he had gone home and called the neighbor across the street and had they not known me, I’d have been visiting with the Dallas police under less pleasant circumstances. I do know that as a result of all of the steps taken by the residents, crime is down significantly in the area.
As to the patrols, I do know from listening to the scanner that the Dallas Police in "Channel 1" are too busy answering calls for service, the vast majority of a priority nature, to just drive through neighborhoods looking for trouble. In Midwest City, it is not uncommon to see a patrol car just idling by, but if I see a patrol car driving down the street in Dallas, it’s likely on a call somewhere.
From my observations so far, I haven’t seen a downside to the program and I really like seeing that white car with “Dallas Police” emblazoned on the side every time I glance up.