Types of Departments Within the Police

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In the police, there are some types of departments. It is important for you to know if you want to be a policeman so that you are able to decide which career which is suitable for you in the police. So, what are the types of departments in the police? Check the information about the types of departments in the police below.

Types of Police Departments

Some Departments in the Police

According to the Indeed site, here are some departments in the police where the departments separate the roles and responsibilities of employees.

  • Patrol

Policemen in the patrol department are assigned to patrol in certain locations. In this department, there are some roles such as K-9 handler teams, division commander, and patrol division administrative assistant.

  • Administration

Police staff such as the deputy chief, the chief of police, and the chief’s administrative assistant usually work in this department.

  • Investigative Services

Various specialized services are provided in this department so that here there may be a special enforcement unit, a division commander, and a marine patrol unit.

  • Services

Police services are provided to the public. A communication unit and a police records unit can be included in it. In this department, there may be division commanders, school crossing guards, and 9-1-1 dispatch operators.

An Example of Division and Structure of the Police Department in a City in Florida

In order to have an idea about the division and structure of the police department, let’s see how the division and structure of the police department in Temple Terrace, a city in Florida. According to the website of Temple Terrace, here is the division and structure of the Police Department in Temple Terrace, Florida.

  • Administration

In the Administration Department, there are:

– The Chief of Police
– The Deputy Chief
– Three Division Commanders
– The Professional Standards Supervisor / Accreditation Manager
– The Chief’s Administrative Assistant

  • Patrol Division

In Patrol Division, there are:

– Division Commander
– Four Squads of Uniformed Patrol Officers
– Two K-9 / Handler Teams
– The Patrol Division Administrative Assistant
– Community Liaison Unit

  • Investigative Services Division

In this division, there are:

– Division Commander
– Criminal Investigation Unit
– Special Enforcement Unit
– Marine Patrol Unit
– Property & Crime Scene Unit
– Special Operations (SWAT & Crisis Negotiators)

  • Services Division

In the Services Division, there are:

– Division Commander
– Communications Unit / 9-1-1 Dispatch
– Police Records Unit
– Technology Management

Some Careers in Police Departments

So, in which department do you want to work? Since there are some departments in the police, there are also a number of careers in each police department. And here are some careers in the police departments according to the Indeed site.

  • Police Officer

General law enforcement is the responsibility of police officers. The things that they do include patrolling, responding to emergency calls, directing traffic, investigating potential crimes, arresting suspects and they will usually build a good relationship with the community.

  • Crime Scene Investigator

The jobs that crime scene investigators do are collecting evidence and documents. They will also attend in court for the case that they are working on.

  • Detective

What are the duties of detectives? They examine crime scenes, gather physical evidence, interview suspects and witnesses, find records in databases and analyze them.

  • Highway Patrol Officer

Highway patrol officers make sure the safety and security of road users. If there is an accident, highway patrol officers will help. They also enforce traffic laws.

  • Public Safety Officer

Public safety officers have duties to keep the peace, enforce the law in public areas, respond to calls, control traffic, patrol in certain areas, maintain order at public gatherings, help people who have civil and criminal issues, and even operate emergency vehicles and firefighting equipment.

  • Sheriff

A sheriff has an authority to enforce the law at a county level. Besides, a sheriff also manages local jails, responds to emergency calls, ensures security in their area, etc.

Those are some careers in police departments. There are still more careers in police departments such as border patrol agent, resource officer, chief of police, and so on.

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