Chesterfield Police 2003 Annual Report

Operations Support Bureau

The Operations Support Bureau manages the Police Training, Support Services, and Animal Control divisions. The bureau facilitates logistical support for both the Uniform Operations and Criminal Investigations bureaus and provides community programming to promote safety awareness and practices. The Operations Support Bureau commander is responsible for fleet management and acts as the police department liaison to the Director of Emergency Communications Center.

The Police Training Division provides entry-level, in-service, specialized and recertification training and career development opportunities. The division is responsible for ensuring compliance with the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services training standards and maintaining state academy accreditation. The academy also extends regional training opportunities for Colonial Heights and Hopewell police departments. Division personnel oversee the training of about 50 officers in basic academies and more than 500 officers through in-service and specialized training. This year the division certified all sworn personnel to access computerized information such as criminal record and history, stolen property, missing persons and fugitives via the Virginia Criminal Information Network and National Crime Information Center.

The School Resource Officer Program consists of two supervisors and 22 officers assigned to 10 high schools and 12 middle schools throughout the county. These school resource officers, serving a population of nearly 30,000 students, are responsible for general police duties at the schools, as well as instructing the students and staff.

The Crime Prevention Section consists of a supervisor, three crime-prevention specialists and one Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) specialist. Included within this section's responsibilities are about 290 active Neighborhood Watch programs, the Business Watch program and personal safety and prevention of workplace violence programs. The unit assisted with more than 70 block parties for the annual National Night Out event and developed a Neighborhood Watch Council. The Business Watch program created a fax alert system to businesses about current crime trends or patterns.

The Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) specialist employs CPTED concepts and principles in the evaluation and review of proposed and existing developments within the county.

The Police Property Section acquires issues and maintains the hundreds of items of equipment necessary for the operation of the police department. The section also is responsible for the secure storage of evidence collected during the investigations of crimes in Chesterfield County. This includes the destruction of evidence and contraband once the legal process has completed its examination and consideration of the evidence. The section also maintains the daily operations of the police fleet.

The Child Safety Office consists of two full-time supervisors, 10 part-time school-crossing guards and 10 part-time child-safety officers. This office is responsible for providing the STEPP (Success Through Education and Proactive Policing) program to nearly 25,000 elementary school students. This year the program extended to the middle schools. STEPP was used as the model for Governor Warner's KIDSafe initiative. Matters concerning personal safety, conflict resolution, responsible behavior and drug prevention are all covered in the STEPP program. Additionally, this office is dedicated to ensuring the safe passage of pedestrians at 13 school posts throughout Chesterfield County. The Child Safety Office provides instruction, information and manpower to issues and events related to child-safety.

The Animal Control Unit provides for the safety and welfare of our citizens by controlling unsupervised domestic animals and by protecting animals from inhumane treatment. Animal Control officers are responsible for the enforcement of state laws and county ordinances applicable to domestic animals. Additionally, the Animal Control Unit operates a shelter for the complete care of animals. The shelter and the Chesterfield County Humane Society partner to educate citizens on proper animal care and to increase adoptions. In 2003, the unit worked closely with the health and police departments to successfully control a rabies outbreak at Huguenot Park.

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