Patrol Logs Overview

Patrol Logs are the primary way to record daily field observations, routine shift notes, and minor occurrences that do not meet the threshold of a formal Incident Report. They help maintain a continuous, searchable timeline of operational activity.

Purpose

While Incidents are formal records of significant events (e.g., medical emergencies, criminal trespasses, behavioral disturbances), Patrol Logs exist to:

• Record routine activity — Track general observations like “North Gate secured” or “Routine check of parking lot completed.”
• Document minor issues — Record low-level occurrences like “Found a broken fence panel” or “Warned a visitor about parking rules.”
• Facilitate shift handoffs — Help the next shift understand what happened previously.
• Act as a precursor to formal incidents — If a minor observation develops into a serious event, a Patrol Log can be instantly promoted to a formal Incident.

Key Differences: Patrol Logs vs. Incidents

Feature	Patrol Log	Incident Report
Severity	Low (Routine observations, minor issues)	High (Emergencies, major policy violations, crimes)
Workflow	Simple. Can be marked as “Needs Follow-Up” or “Resolved”.	Formal. Requires review, status tracking (Open/Closed), and detailed narratives.
Escalation	Can be promoted to an Incident if it escalates.	Already maximum severity record.

Viewing Patrol Logs

1. Navigate to Operations > Patrol Logs from the sidebar.
2. You will see a list of recent logs, starting with the newest entries.
3. You can filter logs by Status (Open, Resolved, Escalated), Category, and whether they require a Follow-Up.
4. To see more details or add an update, click on any log in the list.

Next Steps

• Creating a Log — Learn how to file a new patrol observation.
• Managing Logs (Admin) — Learn how to resolve logs or manage categories.