Hazelwood Police Department Organization

General

The Hazelwood Police Department is established as a permanent police force by virtue of the City Charter.  It exists for the purpose of providing police service for the City of Hazelwood, Missouri.

The police department is one department in a complex organization of municipal government.  The police represents government’s interface with the private lives of individuals.

The personnel of the department consist of sworn police officer members and civilian members.  All members of the department are appointed in compliance with the City of Hazelwood rules pertaining to the appointment of its employees.  In addition, sworn police officers are certified in accordance with MoRS Chapter 590.110.

The number of members of the Department will be set, from time to time, by the City Council.

The control of the police department is vested, by City Charter, to the Chief of Police subject to the authority of the City Manager.

The Chief of Police is responsible to the City Manager for the proper administration and command of the department, the suppression of crime, and the execution of policies, rules and procedures of the department.  The Chief of Police is delegated such power and authority as necessary to fulfill his duties and responsibilities.

“Peace Officer”, as used in this document, means a City of Hazelwood employed Missouri State Certified Peace Office or reserve officer, and by extension and where applicable, any other paid or volunteer member of the agency.

The Hazelwood Police Department’s primary functions are the protection of life and property, the preservation of peace and order, safe movement of traffic, provision for emergency service and the delivery of effective and efficient quality service.

Police Departments are professional organizations comprised of men and women who are empowered by society to serve as the guardians of society’s “goodness”.  Organizations of professionals are distinguished by extensive and continuing professional training, shared and understanding of and commitment to the values of the profession, extensive lateral communication, and – perhaps most important – by the absence of elaborate and complex hierarchies.

The Hazelwood Police Department deploys professional, innovative, self-disciplined and self-motivated officers directly into the community.  The Department envisions the empowerment of neighborhood patrol officers to take independent action to solve problems, create partnerships with the community, and improve the social environment of the neighborhood they serve.  The organization is structured, managed, and operated in a manner, which supports the efforts of the neighborhood patrol officers and encourages a cooperative approach to solving problems.

The management structure of the organization is Police Chief, Director, Manager, Inspector and Supervisor.  Management serves to support and guide, rather than direct and dominate, the actions of officers.  Management functions as mentor, motivator and facilitator, and ensures officers have the necessary resources to solve problems in their respective neighborhoods.

Any specialized position, i.e., Detective, Juvenile Officer, etc, shall be by assignment only, made by the Chief of Police.

Mission Statement

“We, the members of the Hazelwood Police Department, are committed to being responsible to our community in the delivery of quality services.  Recognizing our responsibility to maintain order, while affording dignity and respect to every individual, our objective is to improve the quality of life through a community partnership which promotes safe, secure neighborhoods.”

Philosophy

To ensure the Department’s mission is accomplished, the Department champions “Proactive Neighborhood Problem Solving”.  Neighborhood problem solving acknowledges that police cannot succeed in achieving its basic goals without both the operational assistance and political support of the community.  Conversely, the community cannot succeed in maintaining a decent, open and orderly community without a professional and responsive police department.  The police must be more than a reactive force that responds to crimes already committed.  We must react as a proactive entity, able to deal with a broad variety of conditions, which tend to disrupt the community peace and adversely affect the quality of life.

Functional

To maintain the organizational philosophy and to ensure an efficient and effective law enforcement delivery system, the Department is organized into ten (10) operational teams; six (6) teams and one (1) in the Neighborhood Patrol Group, two (2) teams and three (3) units in the Neighborhood Support Group, two (2) teams and four (4) units in the Special Operations Group, two (2) Support Units,  and three (3) units and six (6) analytical community policing teams under the counsel of the Office of the Chief of Police.

Operational

Guided by the Group Managers, the members of the Operational Teams perform their responsibilities on the basis of shared values and personal commitment to professionalism.  They are empowered to take independent action to solve problems, work with neighborhood leaders and improve the social environment of the neighborhoods they serve.  Working in partnership with the community, the members of these teams are proactive entities that deal with a broad spectrum of conditions, which tend to disrupt the community peace or adversely affect the quality of life.

Neighborhood Patrol Group

The Neighborhood Patrol Group under the guidance of the patrol Team Manager consists of six (6) Neighborhood Patrol Teams and the Jail/Court Bailiff Unit.

Neighborhood Patrol Teams

The (6) Neighborhood Patrol Teams are primarily responsible for the preservation of the peace and tranquility of the community.  The teams provide proactive problem solving policing services in all phases of the operation, which can be performed efficiently and effectively by uniformed officers.  The members of these teams are assigned permanent work shifts and patrol sectors to enhance their ability to resolve community problems.  The teams also provides traffic enforcement, traffic accident investigation and reconstruction, fatal and hit-and-run traffic accident investigations, and all other duties as outlined by state statute, city ordinance, and department policy and guidelines.

Jail/Court Bailiff Unit

Under the guidance of the Manager of the Neighborhood Patrol Group, this unit is responsible for the operation of the City's Jail, to include upkeep of required prisoner records and unit manual. Maintain the city's jail standards in accordance with the municipal jail standards as outlined by the American Jail Association and state and federal laws. Ensure the Municipal Court has adequate security and the safe transfer of prisoners between the municipal jail and the courtroom.

Neighborhood Support Group

The Neighborhood Support Group under the guidance of the Neighborhood Support Team Manager consists of the Criminal Investigation Team, and Youth Interaction Team.

Criminal Investigation Team

The Criminal Investigation Team is responsible for the follow-up investigation of assigned cases, recovery of stolen property, identification and arrest of perpetrators of major crimes and case preparation for court, fugitive arrests, vice and narcotics, intelligence and crime scene processing and evidence collection on major crimes.

Youth Interaction Team

The Youth Interaction Team has two main objectives; 1) to keep young people from being perpetrators of violence and, 2) to keep them from becoming victims of violence.  This team works closely with school personnel, Juvenile Court personnel and other organizations to develop educational, recreational and anti-crime programs and activities that will help youth understand and resist violence.  This team assigns one (1) member as a Juvenile Detective to provide follow-up investigation of assigned juvenile cases, assist the neighborhood patrol officers with the development of intelligence information and eradication of gang activity in their neighborhoods by providing a proactive directed patrol in specified areas, which have been determined to have possible gang activity.  This team coordinates the Department’s School Resource Officer program and assigns two (2) members as School Resource Officers.  This team also provides instruction for the Demand Reduction Program, i.e. Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program in the community schools along with other innovative programs, which are aimed at reducing the demand for illegal drugs and alcohol by the youth of the community, and assigns one (1) member as a Demand Reduction Officer.

Crime Victims and Domestic Violence Unit

Provides direct support for the Criminal Investigation Team and Youth Interaction Team by providing guidance to ensure the teams operate effectively and efficiently.  This unit is responsible for the development and coordination of the department’s crime victim’s assistance and other related programs. This unit also works in conjunction with domestic violence organizations to identify programs, which aid victims and/or reduce the incidents of domestic violence. It monitors the domestic violence incidents reported to the department to ensure the victims receive the proper guidance and protection, and the perpetrators are held accountable for their actions and receive the proper treatment.

Training & Personnel Unit

Under the guidance of the Manager of the Neighborhood Support Group, this unit provides direct support to all members of the department. It is responsible for departmental training coordination as outlined by department policy. This unit coordinates competitive processes associated with employment, promotion and assures compliance with all State and Federal standards as they relate to personnel matters.

Evidence Unit

Under the guidance of the Manager of the Neighborhood Support Group, this unit is responsible for the safe keeping, storage and efficient retrieval of department evidence.

Operational Teams Schedules and Patrol Areas

To ensure effective and efficient manpower is deployed to carry out the mission of the department, the city is divided into geographical sectors.  Operational Teams are assigned specific work shifts and/or patrol sectors of responsibility.

Work Areas (Sectors)

Geographically the city is divided into six (6) sectors.  Neighborhood Patrol Officers are assigned permanent sectors to enhance their problem solving capability.  Each Neighborhood Patrol Team is comprised of two (2) Supervisors (Lt. & Sgt or two (2) Sgt’s.) and from five (5) to seven (7) police officers assigned to specific shifts and sectors.

Team Schedules

Neighborhood Patrol Teams work a nine (9) hour shift and are scheduled on a 28-day schedule with a majority rotation of four (4) days on duty and three (3) days off duty with an occasional rotation of five (5) days on duty and two (2) days off. The teams are scheduled at the following times:

Neighborhood Patrol Teams

Day Shift               7:00 am - 4:00 pm
Afternoon Shift     3:00 pm - 12:00 am
Midnight Shift      10:00 pm - 7:00 am

Mall Patrol Team

Day Shift               8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Afternoon Shift     1:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Midnight Shift       4:00 pm - 1:00 am

The Criminal Investigation Team and Youth Interaction Team work a forty (40) hour week with days, times and hours varying depending on the need of the Team as determined by the Team Supervisor.

Support Units

The Support units are under the guidance of the Administrative Supervisor (Civilian).  These units provide the necessary support for the Operational Teams to function effectively and efficiently.  There are two (2) support units, which provide direct support to specific operational teams or to the entire organization.

Records Unit

Responsible for the efficient filing and retrieval of all complaint reports and records. Entry and retrieval of all statistical information by the department computer system, routing of all documents to the proper authorities as outlined by law and department policy, the channeling of all incoming and outgoing mail and all related duties as outlined by department policy and written directives.

Communications Unit

Responsible for the effective and efficient operation of the emergency radio communications network and all related duties as outlined in the communications manual.

Office of the Chief of Police

General:  The Office of the Chief of Police is responsible for the total operation of the police department.  This includes the preparation of the departmental budget, planning and development, developing departmental policy, rules and operating procedures.  This office has three (3) additional units, the Municipal Court Liaison Unit, the Internal Affairs Unit and the Information Services Unit.  The Community Policing Teams are coordinated by this Office. It is the responsibility of the Chief of Police to ensure the Department operates effectively and efficiently according to city and department policy.

Court Liaison Unit

Responsible for day to day supervision of the Court Clerk’s Office and maintaining a good rapport and open lines of communication with the Municipal Court.

Internal Affairs Unit

Responsible for receiving and filing all complaints filed against members of the Police Department. All complaints are referred to the appropriate Group Manager for investigation.

Community Policing Teams

The Community Policing Team concept is to provide a means for coordinating and improving the effectiveness and efficiency of police services in an established area, i.e., sector.  These are analytical teams comprised of members of the operational teams with ancillary duties to identify specific neighborhoods in their sector and with direct input from the citizens, identify, analyze and resolve unique problems to those neighborhoods.  Each team is comprised of Two (2) Team Leaders (Police Inspector (Lt) and/or Police Supervisor (Sgt), one (1) Information and Intelligence Officer and Officers assigned to operational teams. There are six (6) Community Police Teams. Teams one (1) through six (6) correspond to patrol sectors one (1) through six (6) and are responsible for identifying, analyzing and solving neighborhood problems in their respective sectors.

Special Operations Group

General

Under the guidance of the Chief of Police, assisted by a Police Supervisor, the Special Operations Group addresses unique problems identified through a variety of sources which requires special attention. The group consists of the Traffic Management Team, Neighborhood Action Team and the Information Services Unit.

Traffic Management Team

This team addresses the local street/residential roadway related traffic concerns of residents and provides information on the different types of techniques that may be used in a neighborhood traffic plan and the methodology to be used to evaluate the problems identified. The team provides traffic calming treatments, such as selective use of speed radar, monitoring of high accident locations and directive patrol of problem locations. The team works with other city departments to address traffic issues and create neighborhood traffic plans, develop solutions to traffic-related problems in city neighborhoods.

Information Services Unit

This unit is responsible for planning, implementing and maintaining the department computer network system. Works with other units of city government to ensure coordination with the citywide computer network system.  ISU works with other units and teams of the Department to plan, research, formulate and implement computer and other programs which will allow for a more efficient and effective police service delivery system. The ISU monitors and analyzes calls for police service, to identify trends, patterns and areas of high incidents of crime, quality of life issues and traffic accidents.

Neighborhood Action Team

The Neighborhood Action Team members are Community Oriented Policing Specialists, who work with the neighborhood patrol officers and residents on specific neighborhood or community problems, which require additional attention and/or resources.  The team utilizes the Mobile Response Neighborhood Action Team vehicle (NAT MOBILE).  This vehicle is designed as a mobile police station which is available to the neighborhood patrol officer to assist in establishing partnerships with the citizens, identifying and resolving neighborhood problems and providing a temporary neighborhood network center. The Neighborhood Action Team coordinates the Department’s Neighborhood Watch program, media relations, public relations, crime prevention and school crossing guards.

• Volunteer Unit: This unit is under the guidance of the Neighborhood Action Team, provides a variety of supports to all areas of the department in accordance with volunteer manual.  This unit is also responsible for the Citizens Observation Patrol program.
• Law Enforcement Explorer Program: This program in cooperation with the Boy Scouts of America is under the guidance of the Neighborhood Action Team. This program provides the opportunity for the youth of the community to learn, first hand, about the Law Enforcement Profession.
• Police Chaplain Unit: Provides support to all members of the department.  Responsible for assisting department personnel and citizens by providing spiritual guidance and counseling in times of crisis, and to encourage community support for law enforcement objectives.

The members of this group work a forty (40) hour week with days, times and hours varying depending on the need of the Team/unit as determined by the Group Supervisor.

Professional Standards Unit

The Professional Standards Unit is coordinated by a Police Inspector (Lieutenant).  The unit is responsible for the following functions:

Accreditation

Ensures the CALEA standards applicable to the department are implemented and followed to allow the department to gain and maintain national accreditation status.

Policy and Guidelines

Facilitates the development, content and formatting of all Department policies and operational guidelines.

Uniform Crime Reporting

Reviews all police reports to ensure compliance with the State and Federal Uniform Crime Reporting and ensures reports are submitted in timely manner.

Purchasing

Conducts all departmental purchasing of uniforms, equipment and items in accordance with department and city purchasing guidelines and City ordinances.

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