Frontline (Operational) Policing in the metropolitan area is where most police officers start their careers. Based in any one of a number of metropolitan police stations or units, an operational police officer is often the first to attend a scene in response to calls for help or public disorder incidents.

The variety of challenges is endless with the requests from the public continuously testing the initiative of all operational police officers.

Duties are diverse and can include tending to complaints at police stations, walking the beat, conducting mobile patrols and attending crime scenes. Most importantly the duties involve constant liaison with the community and therefore operational police officers are often seen as the "human face" of the WA Police.