The Police Department works with members of the community, community groups, and other City departments to proactively address crime, quality of life issues, and to enhance a feeling of safety for our residents, business owners, and those who visit the City.

Police officers are trained and sworn to uphold law and order. A normal duty shift might include transporting a drunk driver to a detoxification facility, intervening in a domestic assault, citing underage drinkers, apprehending a shoplifter, handling a traffic accident, investigating burglaries and executing search warrants. Each call requires completion of forms and reports. Occasionally, an officer will be summoned to testify in court about the incident and circumstances of the arrest.

Along with traditional duties, police officers today engage in many proactive initiatives. They get out of their cars, walk around and interact with families and business owners in their assigned neighborhoods. An effort is made to get acquainted on a first name basis with leaders of schools, organizations and churches. Examples of proactive outreach include helping to organize a neighborhood watch, giving presentations to schools and speaking to residents about their concerns at a neighborhood association meeting. Building trust with diverse communities and working collaboratively to address social issues, such as gang violence, is an especially important function of the police.