Airbrake42...I feel your point of view is a little simplistic. The overwhelming majority of the operational police do not walk a 'beet'. The only dedicated foot patrol sections are normally located at busy inner city police stations where getting around on foot is more practical.
Most operational policing is carried out in the 'burbs where the 'old paddy wagon' becomes a mobile office. The humble van scurries back and forth across its patch attending a never ending list of jobs from burglarys to bashings and domestics to disturbances. All this cannot be accomplished on foot.
Mr Plod then becomes like Mr Pilot. He/she spends a lot of time sitting down in his/her mode of transport. Mr Plod just has to get out more often.