I don't know that anyone actually "patrols" for alligators. Way too time consuming for little return. Under 5' they are no danger to humans, well maybe fingers if people are stupid enough to try and grab them. Five feet and above they can be problematic, especially if people feed them. That's against the law but people tend to ignore it. The saying goes down here, "A fed alligator is a dead alligator".
They won't bother you if you don't bother them. Also, don't walk your dog along any fresh water shoreline, especially between dusk and dawn.
My neighbor: