The Kansas City Patrol Experiment of 1974 found this method ineffective. Generally considered the brainchild of Herman Goldstein. Examples would include the practice of clearing off the streets outside of the bars after sporting events in the UK with lights and sound. Split Force Policing - This is the idea of requiring half your patrol force to look after specific assigned tasks while the other half roams freely, acting as a reserve to be called in when necessary. Wilmington, Delaware is a good example where half the force was a call-answering group and the other half a criminal interception group.
Detectives tend to be considered the elite and are usually a highly paid part of the police force.
Detectives are consumate bureaucrats. They spend an inordinate amount of time at their desks reading reports, completing paperwork, holding meetings, and in general, discussing criminal investigative procedures. Specialization only occurs within larger departments. The type of case dictates the amount of effort exerted by the detective and the types of action taken.