Police patrols serve a variety of purposes, all with the underlying objective of keeping a particular area safe and crime-free. Capitol Police officers are patrolling the State House Complex and surrounding State properties around the clock. They respond to calls for service and monitor the parking areas, streets, and crosswalks surrounding the Capitol while they check for safety concerns or signs of criminal activity. They disperse unauthorized, non-permitted crowds and monitor suspicious or unusual activity.

While on patrol, an officer might escort an employee that has forgotten an item in their office after hours, respond to a call for assistance or investigation, investigate alarms, or issue tickets for traffic or parking violations. Officers also conduct searches and cite, warn or arrest offenders that they confront. Many of these activities occur as follow-up investigations of citizen complaints and emergency calls.