Patrol officers are first responders to all police-related calls for service in Perry Township, as well as some fire and EMS calls for service. Calls for service range from reports of a suspicious person to armed robberies. Officers must solve problems, prepare reports, gather evidence, testify in court, and patrol their districts.

The patrol bureau consists of three shifts: first (6a-2p), second (2p-10p) and third (10p-6a). Each shift is supervised by a sergeant. There are two additional shifts which supplement the main shifts: day midwatch(8a-6p) and evening midwatch (6p-4a).