Patrol
Patrol is the uniformed component of the police department. It provides 24 hour, 7 day response to calls for service. The average shift consists of 1 Sergeant and 4 to 6 patrol officers. Services include traffic law enforcement, report taking, preliminary investigation, selected follow-up investigations, accident investigation, response to public disorder complaints. Calls for service are prioritized based upon the seriousness and immediacy of a threat to life or property of the reported incident.
Communications
The Communications Center is composed of twelve communications officers who provide staffing 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All calls for service requiring a response by police officers are routed through this unit. These professionals are responsible for timely response of patrol officers based upon prioritization of calls for service. Officers frequently require information to efficiently perform their duties and request this information from the communications officers. The communications officers are responsible for providing support for as many as 18 or 20 officers during the daytime when detectives are working as well as support for non-sworn staff working in the field.
The Department employs a computer aided dispatch system that facilitates prioritization of calls for service, however the communications officers must access a number of database systems to respond to inquiries from officers. These members are also call takers at various times of the day when records personnel are unavailable. Monitoring other local police organizations, working in concert with fire and emergency medical services, providing direct support for Springfield Police Officers, responding to the needs of emergency calls, alarms and routine business, Communications Officers are the hub of the organization’s activities.
Parking Enforcement
This unit provides service related to abandoned and illegally parked vehicles. Unit members work cooperatively with the City’s zoning, code and nuisance abatement personnel on problem areas within the City. When reporting an abandoned vehicle, please keep in mind that at this time we only have one part-time Parking Enforcement Officer, so it may take some time to get to your complaint.
