User:Johndoe32539850/Crestview Police Department

The Crestview Police Department is a municipal police department located in Okaloosa County in the Florida Panhandle. The department consists of fifty full-time police officers including fourteen supervisors, as well as fifteen civilian employees and up to ten volunteer auxiliary police officers. The city of Crestview is the largest city by population in Okaloosa County. The department is tasked with protecting the citizens and visitors of the city of Crestview and is a full-service law enforcement agency.

Organization
The head of the police department is the Chief of Police. The command staff consists of two Majors and six Lieutenants.

The rank structure of the Crestview Police Department is as follows:

1. Chief of Police

2. Majors

3. Lieutenants

4. Sergeants

5. OIC's (Senior Officers)

6. Officers

There are several divisions within the police department including:

Patrol Division

The Patrol Division is the largest, most visible part of the police department. Members of the Patrol Division wear standard police uniforms and drive fully marked patrol vehicles. When a member of the public calls the Police Department for assistance, it is more than likely a member of the Patrol Division who responds. The Patrol Division is commanded by two Lieutenants who each supervise two "squads" or "shifts". Each squad is supervised by a Sergeant and an OIC (Senior Officer). There are a total of twenty-four police officers, not including supervisors, who serve the city of Crestview as members of the Crestview Police Department Patrol Division including two Officers assigned to Traffic Enforcement.

Criminal Investigations Division

The Criminal Investigations Division, also known as "CID", is commanded by a Lieutenant and supervised by a Detective Sergeant. There are four Investigators and a Crime Scene Technician who are assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division. Investigators are responsible for investigating felony cases including burglaries, robberies, fraud cases, and homicides. An Investigator and Crime Scene Technician is on-call 24/7 to respond to violent incidents and major felonies. In other cases, a member of the Patrol Division conducts the initial investigation by interviewing witnesses, documenting evidence, and taking a report. The case is then assigned to an Investigator for follow-up.

Special Operations Division

The Special Operations Division consists of the Street Crimes Unit, Canine Unit, and SWAT Team. The division consists of a Lieutenant, Sergeant, three Investigators, and two highly trained police K-9's. This division bears the primary responsibility of investigating narcotics cases, executing search warrants and high-priority arrest warrsnts, and performing undercover operations and extensive investigations.

Community Policing Division

The Community Policing Division is staffed by a Lieutenant and one Officer. These police officers organize and coordinate the highly successful neighborhood watch program, provide community education, give talks and presentations to various civic groups and community organizations, and work to build strong relationships between the community and law enforcement which ultimately solves cases and prevents crimes.

Communications Division

The Communications Division consists of Communications Officers or Dispatchers who answer, classify, prioritize, and dispatch calls for service. The Communications Center is a primary answering point for 911 calls within the city of Crestview and a secondary answering point for 911 calls in the entire northern portion of Okaloosa County. Communications Officers not only answer calls for police services, but dispatch Crestview Fire Department calls as well. The Communications Division is supervised by a Communications Supervisor and each shift is lead by a Shift Supervisor/Senior Dispatcher.

Auxiliary/Reserves Division

The Crestview Police Department operates an Auxiliary and Reserves Program both of which are 100% volunteer programs. Members of the Reserve Program are sworn, fully certified police officers who donate their time as volunteers and provide additional manpower to the Crestview Police Department. Reserve Officers are afforded the same rights and authority as full-time Officers, the only difference being they are not paid. The Auxiliary Program consists of individuals who have completed training as state certified Auxiliary Law Enforcement Officers. Auxiliary Officers are authorized to wear the standard patrol uniform and carry a firearm while on duty. Some Auxiliary Officers have undergone additional training to write traffic citations and operate Radar. Others strictly provide additional patrol in residential areas and provide back-up to full-time Officers. Auxiliary Officers generally do not make arrests, however, they have the authority to make an arrest if operating under the direction and supervision of a full-time Officer. The Auxiliary Program is supervised by a Captain, who is not paid. The Auxiliary Program has been in operation since 1997 and has saved tax payers thousands and thousands of dollars by providing support and additional police manpower free of charge.

Uniforms
The Crestview Police Department's standard patrol uniform consists of a dark navy blue shirt and dark navy blue trousers. This uniform was implemented in 2007 when the former grey and blue uniforms were phased out after being used for many years. An embroidered patch is worn on each shoulder which consists of a full-color city seal with a rocker and the word "Police" above the seal. A 3" sheild style badge with an eagle top is worn above the pocket in the left side of the shirt. A whistle chain, name tag, and an American Flag emblem is worn on the left side above the pocket. A silver collar ornament with the initials "C.P.D." is worn on each lapel, with the exeption of Officers holding the rank of Lieutenant and above who wear their rank insignia in place of the "C.P.D." emblems. Officers wear a leather duty belt which includes the duty firearm, handcuffs, defense spray, M26 or X26 model Taser, two-way radio, and extra ammunition. The "Class A" or dress uniform consists of the above equipment but with a long sleeve uniform shirt, navy blue necktie, and a black campaign hat with a small badge centered on the hat with silver or gold chords. The rank of Sergeant wears three gold chevrons on each sleeve below the patch and the rank of OIC wears a single gold chevron on each sleeve below the batch. The rank of Sergeant and above wear all gold insignia and the rank of OIC and below wear all silver insignia. Officers who have completed special training and hold the positions of SWAT operator, Field Training Officer (FTO), or Traffic Enforcement Officer, or those Officers who have received awards such as the Life Saving Award, may wear special insignia above their name tag.

Vehicles
The Crestview Police Department primarily uses the Ford Crown Victoria P71 for their patrol vehicles. The Patrol Division drives marked vehicles with blue and black striping and the word "Police" on each side of the vehicle as well as gold badge insignia. Each patrol vehicle is equipped with either an all-blue or red/blue combination LED light bar atop the roof as well as secondary emergency lighting in the rear window and front grille. Each patrol vehicle is equipped with a mobile computer terminal (MCT) which gives the Officers complete access to the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system, the state FCIC and national NCIC database, and in-car report writing capability. Additionally, each vehicle is equipped with a siren, spotlight, and two-way radio, and most vehicles are equipped with a digital video and audio recording system as well.