The Patrol Division is staffed by uniformed officers and comprises the largest division within the department. Scheduling of patrol officers is done using fixed shifts. Patrol officers are responsible for all of the primary police tasks seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day.

The Patrol Division has four basic functions:

• the prevention and repression of crime
• the apprehension of offenders
• the maintenance of peace
• the protection of life and property

Some of the duties of officers assigned to the Patrol Division include:

• Responding to criminal complaints and conducting complete preliminary investigations.
• Responding to non-criminal calls for service and EMS requests.
• Traffic control and the initial investigation of auto crashes.
• Enforcement of City Ordinance violations, State Statutes, and Motor Vehicle Laws.
• Handling of animal complaints.

Other services not directly related to law enforcement but historically performed by the police, such as, bank and funeral escorts, house and business inspections, notifications, and parade details.

During the year, the Clifton Police Department continued its proactive approach to D.W.I. (Driving While Intoxicated) enforcement by patrol officers. Roving patrols and D.W.I. roadblocks were the enforcement strategies employed and State funding from D.W.I. surcharges was used to offset the cost of these programs.