Law Enforcement Created by Curt Harrell & Jesse Kuzy for
Overview • Law Enforcement consists of police departments and related departments at the local, state, and federal level. • Law Enforcement officers are often first responders to emergencies and threats to public safety. • Officers protect public facilities, infrastructure, and public officials. • In some cases, law enforcement agencies operate correctional facilities. http://www.ci.neenah.wi.us/assets/images/departments/police/NPD%20Misc%20Photos/Badge2-Transparency.gif
Uniform Patrol (UPD) Uniform Patrol Officers: • Answer 911 calls for service • Monitor and investigate suspicious people and situations, safety hazards, and unusual or illegal activity in their patrol areas http://www.americantrails.org/photos/NRTphotos/AmTobacco3.jpg
Uniform Patrol (UPD) [cont’d] Uniform Patrol Officers: • Record facts and document incidents and activities • Monitor regulated intersections to ensure motorists observe traffic regulations; issue citations for infractions • Testify in court to present evidence or as a witness http://www.hstoday.us/uploads/RTEmagicC_df63331c3f.jpg.jpg
Criminal Investigations • If a UPD arrives at a scene and determines that more investigation in needed, a detective is called in to continue the investigation. http://www.clackamas.us/sheriff/images/csi01.jpg
Criminal Investigations [cont’d] • Detective divisions are often divided into two classes: • Persons detectives investigate crimes involving people, such as homicide, suicide, rape, kidnapping, etc. • Property detectives investigate crimes such as auto theft, I.D. theft, burglary and vandalism. • Larger agencies may have a C.S.I unit dedicated entirely to collecting and analyzing evidence. http://www.georgetown.org/images/upload_images/police1186076751.jpg
Evidence/Property • Police have evidence and property organizations to help with property collected in operations and investigations. • Evidence that is illegal under Georgia law will not be returned to its owner; otherwise, • The owner can claim the evidence in person, provided they can identify or describe the property and present some form of I.D.
K-9 • K-9 units are specialized teams of police dogs and handlers. • Dogs are trained in specific areas such as tacking, explosives, drugs, and search and rescue. • Police dogs undergo a minimum 8-week training program; to stay certified, both dog and handler must train at least 4 hours every week. http://dev.ci.edina.mn.us/content/departments/police_department/images/police_dogs.jpg
S.W.A.T • S.W.A.T. teams specialize in high-risk building entries, hostage rescue, woodland searches, civil disturbances, and counter-surveillance. • Teams routinely attend specialized training in tactics, marksmanship, and critical incident management. http://www.ci.robbinsdale.mn.us/images/SWAT_2.jpg
Narcotics • Narcotics squads exist at every level of government to focus on stopping drug trade. • Squads target dealers and producers and infiltrate drug organizations and crime hierarchies. • Officers may go undercover to perform “sting” operations, posing as buyers to catch dealers in the act. • Task forces may also set up drug rehabilitation programs.
Hostage Negotiation • Hostage negotiation teams respond to incidents involving barricaded subjects with or without hostages, as well as suicidal subjects. • Negotiators are highly trained and attempt to resolve the situation in as peaceful a way as possible, trying to avoid injury or loss of life above all else. http://www.co.solano.ca.us/images/depts/sheriff/IMG_424.JPG
Hostage Negotiation [cont’d] • Little systematic data exists for crisis negotiation in the US; in an attempt to collect data, team leaders may complete a crisis negotiation survey. It is hoped that this will help better identify the needs of crisis negotiation teams. http://www.nh.gov/safety/divisions/nhsp/fob/crisisneg/graphics/cnupatch.JPG
Child Safety Seats • As a part of their community outreach and education, police departments may conduct child safety seat inspections. • Safety Seat standards are monitored and enforced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. • The NHTSA ensures that child safety seats meet specific performance criteria in crash tests. http://fastlane.dot.gov/2009/04/index.html
Safety Seat Inspections • During a child safety seat inspection, nationally-certified inspectors perform a 20-30 minute safety check to: • Make sure the child safety seat is properly installed • Remove the seat and inspect it for damage • Diagnose problems • Get information about children riders from the vehicle owners • Ensure the seat is appropriate for the child’s size and age. • Teach how to properly install the child safety seat • Show how to secure the child in the seat • Discuss proper procedures in other vehicles the parents may own.
Summary • What does Law Enforcement consist of? • Police and related departments at the local, state, and federal level • What are several departments Law Enforcement is involved with? • Criminal Investigations • S.W.A.T. (Special Weapons And Tactics) • Hostage Negotiation • K-9
