Uniformed Patrol Division
"The police are the public and the public are the police."
 At the heart of every department is the uniformed Patrol Division. It is where the citizens and officers have the opportunity to come together not only in the time of crisis, but also for education, crime prevention and support.
Our Patrol Division is divided into three levels: supervisors, officers, and reserve officers. The Patrol Division is overseen by a lieutenant who is assisted by sergeants. Patrol officers make up the largest part of patrol, followed by Bicycle patrol officers, traffic enforcement officers and DUI enforcement officers. The Patrol Division is also supplemented with reserve officers.
Patrol officers are assigned to one or more of ten geographical areas that the city has been divided into. Most officers will have the same area assignment for the duration of the shift they are on. This enables the officer to become familiar with the area, where the businesses are, who belongs in that area, and the vehicles usually associated with the area. Hopefully, the officer becomes "territorial". When the officer develops a feeling of ownership to the area, he becomes more involved in what activities are going on. We encourage our officers to get out of their vehicles whenever possible and get to know the people who live, work and go to school in "their" area.
Traffic Enforcement Officers are responsible for providing specialized traffic enforcement, especially in areas that are subject to a high occurrence of traffic crashes. Through a visual presence and by issuing citations, motorists become more aware of their driving habits and observe traffic regulations.
Alcohol and drug impaired drivers are a major concern to the public and this department. A part of our commitment to combating this problem is the specialized training of patrol officers in DUI Detection. Thus far, we have been quite successful in arresting impaired drivers and seeing court convictions. The DUI Enforcement Officers utilize patrol cars with specialized markings, lights and equipment. The vehicles are equipped with in-car video cameras and the officers carry portable breath testers (PBT) for on-scene testing of alcohol levels.
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