patrol member, you should strive to anticipate and
prevent trouble. In situations that will obviously result
in disorder, take preventive measures before
apprehension becomes necessary. Quiet, friendly words
of advice often are sufficient to prevent a situation from
getting out of hand. Above all, control your temper. If
you let taunts or curses overcome your self-control, you
only increase tension in a situation you are trying to
prevent. Should the apprehension of an unruly person
become necessary, do so as quietly and expeditiously as
possible.
Do not permit yourself to become involved in an
argument. You can help restore order and maintain
discipline by demanding strict compliance with orders,
rules, and regulations; but be tactful in exercising your
authority. You also must be tactful and patient with
military personnel who have had too much to drink.
Some people in such a condition tend to become
belligerent. If they persist in having a belligerent
attitude after you have talked to them, you can cancel
their liberty and send them back to their ship or station;
or you can apprehend them and take them to patrol
headquarters.
When apprehending unauthorized absentees, you
have two courses of action (except in the case of
deserters, who always must be taken to patrol
headquarters). If persons present a neat and orderly
appearance and furnish reasonable evidence that they
are returning to their station, you should permit them to
proceed. Reasonable evidence is their possession of a
ticket to the proper destination, presence in a bus or
railroad depot awaiting transportation, or actual
presence on the train or bus. Avoid detaining the
absentees to the extent that they miss their
transportation. If, on the other hand, you are
reasonably certain they will not, or cannot, comply
with orders to return to their command, take them to
patrol headquarters where arrangements will be made
for their return.
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.
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