Patrols have been around for years. We have rules regarding this policy including where people could and could not go. For SAMP, they couldn't go too far east, with Artesia Avenue being the cut-off point. They weren't allowed to go in high-crime areas, unless directly responding to or returning from a call. This was strictly enforced. I would very much disagree with your statement that "factions like the LSFD can't be realistic". It's fully possible to be realistic. Like all of the legal factions we go as close to our real-life counterparts as possible, while still making adjustments as-needed to fit the fact it is a videogame, and there will always be limitations.
Furthermore, specialized members of the LAFD who are trained and certified in ALS, are allowed to utilize "Fast-Response Vehicles". Their job is to patrol the streets of Los Angeles, and self-dispatch themselves to nearby calls. They are to assess the situation, and let dispatch know if BLS or ALS services are required, or if transportation will even be necessary. Their FRVs do not come equipped with transport-abilities, but they have everything else an ambulance does, as well as some firefighting equipment. Patrols in ambulances may not occur, but for the purposes of the server, we've limited FRV use to members of the TEMS Unit. (A unit which will not be focused on during launch, as it's a more niche area of roleplay). Which is another reason we've allowed members to patrol in ambulances, should they wish to do so. The purpose of these FRVs is to not only ensure a speedy response so people can get the services they need, but so that the invaluable time and resources of the department are delegated appropriately and efficiently.
There has been plenty of plot-twists and action during my time in the faction, and it may not have been the case in your time, but we're not talking about your time, we're talking about the present and recent times. We've worked very hard over the last several years, and had many exciting scenarios and events. Your past experiences do not reflect the present-day faction, nor does it reflect the faction over the course of the last several years. With Genny becoming Chief, we moved away from unrealistic roleplay, and aimed for a more realistic faction, keeping in-line with our real-life counterpart. This was not only a quality of life update for the faction itself, but to have more uniformity across all legal factions, as the other ones have based their policies on their LA counterparts. It was the logical step to better replicate a realistic American fire department, as we have two realistic American law-enforcement factions on the server already.