What does a patrol shift actually look like in 2026?
Police1 is seeking your input to better understand the realities of life on patrol — from briefing and call load to backup availability, reporting demands, supervision and how the day ends.
In recent years, policing has faced major changes in staffing, public expectations and operational demands. These shifts have reshaped how patrol officers spend their time, how calls are handled and how much opportunity remains for proactive policing.
This year’s What Cops Want survey focuses specifically on the patrol shift itself. We want to understand how officers experience their day — how calls stack, how long backup takes to arrive, how much time is spent on reporting and how often officers have the opportunity for proactive policing.
Participation is completely anonymous. No personally identifying information will be collected and responses will only be reported in aggregate.
Estimated completion time: 5 - 7 minutes.
