Ask the officer Ask the officer (December 24, 2003)

Menlo Park police officer Glenn J. Raggio answers questions about the police and law enforcement. Call 330-6396, or e-mail: asktheofficer@menlopark.org. Q. Sometimes I see officers riding two in a car, and sometimes just one per car. Who makes that decision? A. Menlo Park officers have the option from time to time to double up with a beat partner or other officer. Don Heyfron (retired) and I often doubled up while on patrol. The advantage, of course, is that close friends often work well together. The disadvantage is that one car can't patrol as much area as two. It is interesting to note that most officers prefer to ride solo. It's been that way since I can remember. There are cities that require officers to ride in twos, generally in high-crime areas.

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