Emergency:
911
"POLICE
OPERATIONS"
TRAFFIC
SAFETY UNIT
In
April of 2000 the Utica Police Department initiated it's Traffic
Safety Unit. This unit is comprised of two police officers and
a sergeant. This unit was established in response to ever increasing
traffic volumes within the city and in an effort to curb our
high motor vehicle crash statistics and to increase our efforts
at enforcing the drunk driving laws. One traffic officer is
assigned to dayshift while the other is assigned a split shift
from 6 p.m. - 4 a.m. Sgt. Healy supervises these officers from
his day shift. Since it's inception we have witnessed a decrease
in motor vehicle crashes and a dramatic increase in arrests
for drunk driving. Through enforcement and education, our goal
is to achieve a safe environment on our highways and neighborhoods.
MOTORCYCLE
UNIT
Our
Motorcycle Unit was formed in April of 2000 in conjunction with
our Traffic Safety Unit. We currently have two Harley Davidson
motorcycles. The unit consists of four trained officers who
operate the motorcycle on the dayshift and afternoon shift,
year long, weather permitting. The officers will primarily be
assigned to traffic enforcement, however, will also perform
the duties of road patrol officers as needed. They also participate
in community relations activities, parade details, and motorcade
escorts.
POLICE MOUNTAIN BIKE PATROLS
Our department currently has two officers certified for bicycle
patrol. These officers received 32 hours of specialzed training
in the use of firearms while on the bike, evasive maneuvers
and strength and conditioning. Both officers are avid cyclists
outside of the police department. The police mountain bike is
specially equipped and the officers handle various runs from
dispatch, patrol shopping centers, schoolyards, parks and other
areas not easily accessible with a car.
MOTOR
CARRIER UNIT
Trained
Motor Carrier officers enforce commercial vehicle laws and ordinances.
Their main duty is to enforce the Michigan Motor Carrier Act.
If a violation is observed the officer will conduct a safety
inspection, and issue violations to those trucks or vehicles
that are not in compliance with the law. They also have the
authority to place a truck out of service until a particular
violation is corrected. One patrol vehicle is equipped with
portable weigh scales to check for overweight vehicles. The
unit has been highly effective in removing numerous overweight
and badly maintained trucks from our roadways.
EVIDENCE
TECHNICIANS
Currently
four officers are trained as Evidence Technicians. They have
completed 120 hours of initial training and are continually
updated on their skills through additional training seminars
that they attend. Their duties, in addition to road patrol,
are to process crime scenes. They are able to raise latent fingerprints,
plaster cast foot prints and tire impressions and utilize special
photography and video equipment to record evidence at the scene.
One officer is trained in Accident Reconstruction and the second
officer will complete the eight-step training session next year.
UNIFORM
DIVISION
While
it's true that we operate all of the specialized units described
previously, in a department our size we do not have the luxury
of having those officers strictly assigned to those units. The
officers in those units are all cross trained and are all members
of the Uniform Division. The Uniform Division is the backbone
of any police department. Their duties include answering all
calls for service, enforcing traffic laws and city ordinances,
investigating suspicious activities and preventing crime through
vigorous patrol. Last year our officers responded to over 11,000
calls for service. These range from assisting stranded motorists
to armed robberies. Our officers work three shifts; days, afternoons
and midnights. They are on patrol 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,
365 days a year.
