Patrol

The Patrol Bureau encompasses the largest group of sworn personnel in the department. Patrol operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It is comprised of four shifts, each supervised by a watch commander. The watch commander is in charge of the officers in the field, the communications center, and the jail.

Responsibilities

Patrol officers generally work in full uniform and operate marked police vehicles. Officers are responsible for enforcing municipal, state, and federal laws.

Patrol officers are usually the first to respond to public emergency and non-emergency calls for service. The officers conduct proactive criminal law enforcement and are responsible for the initial investigation of crimes. Between calls for service, officers maintain high visibility and conduct preventative patrol. They also enforce traffic laws, which helps to reduce traffic collisions.

Community Involvement

Patrol officers are usually the first contact citizens have with the Police Department. The Department wishes to make that impression a positive one and desires to provide a high level of service. The men and women of the Patrol Bureau endeavor to provide courteous, professional, and courageous law enforcement service.