The Patrol Division is under the command of a Police Captain where officers work a 4/10 (weekday ) or a 3/12 (weekend) fixed schedule.

Patrol officers work a fixed schedule and have the option to work Days, Afternoons or Graveyard. They are assigned to shifts and remain with their shift for a minimum of six months. Additionally, patrol officers work with a partner on most patrol shifts.

Patrol is the largest division within the Police Department, and the patrol officers are the first responders to our community's calls for service, playing a key role in our public service, crime prevention, crime detection, criminal apprehension, with the assistance of S.W.A.T., C.N.T. (Crisis Negotiation Team), K-9’s, Community Lead Officer (CLO’s) Detail, Drone Team, and the Torrance Mental Evaluation Team (TMET), all of which encompass the philosophy of  Focus Based Policing.

Patrol officers generally work in full uniform and operate marked black and white police vehicles. A patrol officer's day ranges from handling routine reports to life threatening dangerous situations. When not answering calls for service, patrol officers seek out and proactively suppress criminal activity. They also routinely participate in such activities as traffic enforcement, community problem-solving activities, assisting citizens in improving the quality of life in the City, and numerous other law enforcement functions. Under the Focus Based Policing philosophy, they are encouraged to be creative and use fresh thinking in solving problems with results focused on outcomes rather than outputs.