5-26 They report conditions or practices that appear prejudicial to the welfare of military personnel. The shore patrol must be alert for signs of uncleanliness or violations of sanitation and fire laws by restaurants, taverns, or dance halls patronized by service personnel. If any violations are found, notify your duty officer. The shore patrol always should be on the lookout for fire hazards. Check all exits to make sure that all people in the establishment can escape in case of fire. Remember,  as  a  shore  patrol  member,  you  are concerned not only with the health and welfare of service personnel  but  also  with  the  health  and  welfare  of civilians within your area of duty. If you make a careful inspection and turn in an unfavorable report, you may make a few enemies, but you also may save many lives. Complaints of overcharging, shortchanging, misrepresentation, or other illegal or shady practices should be investigated. If the complaints continue, notify the shore patrol officer. If such practices are continued, the establishment can be placed off limits. Personal Appearance and Conduct When standing shore patrol duties, you are dealing with two communities—the military and the civilian. You must always present a sharp appearance. Be in a correct, clean, and neat uniform. Your hair must be neatly groomed, shoes shined, and hat squared. Service personnel are quick to notice and criticize faults in the uniform and behavior of the shore patrol. The people in the civilian community get their impressions of our armed forces from the way you look. You are an ambassador of the United States and the U.S. Navy. In other words, wear your uniform with pride at all times. Your conduct as a member of the shore patrol reflects directly on the Navy and the United States. You are constantly in public view and must maintain a reputation for smartness, alertness, and efficiency. Never lounge or lean against buildings or objects, and public smoking   is   prohibited.   Refrain   from   prolonged conversations outside the line of duty. Do not congregate with other patrol members except in the line of duty, and never linger in any public place or establishment. The authority vested in the shore patrol is represented by the uniform and brassard. You may exercise this authority only in the performance of assigned shore patrol duties. When you are not on duty, you have the same status as any other member of the armed forces not on duty. You are never allowed to use your shore patrol credentials  to  solicit  favors,   gifts,   or   gratuities. Furthermore, these concessions should never be accepted when offered. When eating ashore as a member of the shore patrol, you must pay regular prices, whether on duty, on liberty, or on leave. Members of the shore patrol are forbidden to drink any form of an intoxicating beverage or any other form of intoxicant while on duty or at any other time that may be prescribed by the shore patrol officer. Remember,  you  must  maintain  respectful  and friendly relations with the civil authorities and the civilian community in general. Be alert to your duty by preventing disharmony prejudicial to the armed forces. Jurisdiction The shore patrol has jurisdiction over all members of the armed forces. You have the authority to take corrective action against any member of the armed forces who breaks regulations or the law. The corrective actions   include   apprehension,   if   necessary;   but apprehensions should not be made if corrective measures will suffice. When standing shore patrol duties, you normally have no jurisdiction over civilians. When dealing with civilians in the continental United States, a member of the shore patrol may do only what any other citizen may do—call on the civil police for assistance. If a civilian is in the act of committing a felony, you can and should place the individual under citizen's arrest. Every citizen has the right and the moral duty to stop crime and apprehend a criminal. Today many military personnel are allowed to wear civilian clothes ashore. Wearing civilian clothing does not free Sailors from the jurisdiction of the shore patrol. If persons in civilian attire are creating a disturbance, for instance, and you have reason to suspect they are service members, request they show their identification (ID) cards. If they refuse, seek the assistance of the civil authorities. Foreign military personnel serving under a command of the U.S. Armed Forces also may be apprehended by the shore patrol. They may be apprehended under the same circumstances that justify the apprehension of U.S. Armed Forces personnel.