Patrol Operations, Northern and Southern Districts

Patrol operations are divided into two districts, Northern and Southern. The districts each are managed by a District Commander and are divided into platoons of officers that work 12-hour day and night shifts. These patrol officers respond to the community’s calls for service, enforce traffic and criminal laws, address community needs and initiate actions based on their own observations.

The Northern District includes Elkridge, the Long Reach community in Columbia, historic Ellicott City, and extends as far west as Mt. Airy. A patrol lieutenant, also known as a Watch Commander, oversees the patrol operation on a 24-hour basis. The District is divided into two areas that are each supervised by a sergeant, and the areas are broken into 11 beats. The Northern District patrol office is located at Police Headquarters in Ellicott City. The District also has satellite offices in Long Reach and Cooksville.

The Southern District includes Columbia, Clarksville, Fulton, Jessup, Savage, and North Laurel. A Watch Commander oversees the Southern patrol operation on a 24-hour basis. The District is divided into three areas that are each supervised by a sergeant, and the areas are divided into 13 beats. The Southern District patrol office is located at our Scaggsville police station. The District also oversees the North Laurel Community Policing Office and a satellite offices in the Harper's Choice and Oakland Mills areas of Columbia.

Both Districts have a Special Assignment Section, which aids patrol efforts by providing various services. These services include but are not limited to: surveillance, covert operations, and saturation patrols. Through focused enforcement initiatives in specific areas of the community, the officers assigned to these units have continued to make Howard County a safer place to live.