U.S. Forces, Local Police Conduct Joint Patrol with Residents in Okinawa City

On April 18, 2025, U.S. service members in Okinawa will participate in the resumption of joint community patrols in Okinawa City together with local police, residents, city officials and other stakeholders. The patrol aims to help ensure the safety and security of the local community. It marks a significant step forward in bilateral cooperation and will serve as a valuable tool to enhance public safety and ultimately strengthen the U.S.-Japan alliance.

“These renewed joint patrols reflect our continued commitment to partnership, accountability, and mutual respect,” said Lt. Gen. Roger Turner, commanding general of III Marine Expeditionary Force and Okinawa Area Coordinator. “By working side-by-side with our Japanese counterparts, we are reinforcing shared standards and contributing to the safety and trust that are essential to the strength of the U.S.-Japan alliance.”

Joint Patrols are a long-established provision within the Status of Forces framework to advance U.S. and Japan shared interests in maintaining order and discipline among SOFA-status personnel outside U.S. facilities and areas. In coordination with the Japanese Government (GOJ), USFJ has been actively engaging to develop joint patrol protocols to ensure effective and coordinated operations with the local community. USFJ and Okinawa Prefecture, together with other stakeholders including GOJ, have been working to establish a new forum for cooperation which will serve as a venue to foster further dialogue with local stakeholders and facilitate progress on key issues of mutual interest. USFJ and the GOJ are also working towards conducting joint patrols in other areas throughout Okinawa and regularly conduct them in locations across Japan.

"We deeply value the strong partnership we have with our partners in Okinawa City and appreciate the close coordination with USFJ in these renewed patrols,” said Colonel David Mays, Provost Marshal for USFJ. “The strength of our alliance lies in close and persistent engagement at all levels, and we appreciate the collaborative spirit that has made this agreement possible."

USFJ and the GOJ are committed to working together and with local communities. These types of efforts are crucial in laying the foundation for building a stronger, more resilient relationship among U.S. Forces and Japanese communities.