| PATROL
|
The Road Patrol is the largest division in the agency. The men and women, who make up Road Patrol, answer calls
for service dispatched by the Communications department, patrol the city searching for crimes in progress, and
traffic violations. Their proactive approach not only detects crimes in progress but also is responsible for deterring
countless other offenses.
In addition to handling the initial report of a crime, officers often conduct the follow-up investigation for misdemeanors
or respond to State Attorneys Office tasking sheets requesting additional information. This allows detectives to concentrate
their efforts on other crimes or long-term investigations.
Patrol Division of the Ocoee Police Department is responsible for responding to crimes, traffic accidents, and matters
impacting public safety and order in Ocoee. The Patrol Division currently is comprised of approximately 40 officers.
The Patrol Division is organized into 4 Patrol squads each supervised in the field by a Sergeant.The Patrol Division
is divided into two rotations, consisting of a day squad and a night squad, with each rotation managed by a Patrol
Lieutenant who answers directly to the Chief of Police.
The Traffic Division as also under the command of a Patrol Lieutenant. The Traffic Division is a squad consisting of a
Sergeant and 4 officers devoted solely to traffic enforcement and the handling of traffic accidents.Special assignments
within the Traffic Division include 2 Motorcycle Units, a DUI Prevention Unit and an Aggressive Driving Prevention Unit.
There are also about 25 school crossing guards assigned to assist the safe journeys of our school children to school.
(List of AM & PM School Zones by Road)
The Ocoee Police K9 Unit is also under the Patrol Division. The K9 Division consists of 3 K9 officers and 2 dogs, one assigned
to each midnight squad. Each K9 Team consists of an Officer Handler of an all purpose police K9 trained in tracking of suspects
or lost children, and detection of narcotics. The Traffic and K9 Units also participate in public relations efforts, by
providing demonstrations at public events to provide education to the public.
The Ocoee Police Department has embraced a Community Oriented Policing (COP) system. One of the ways the members of the Road Patrol
demonstrate their participation in this system of policing is by volunteering to teach classes for the
Citizen Police Academy (CPA) and local businesses. We have even added a
boat patrol detail to address our presence on our area lakes and waterways.
Field Training Officers (FTO)- besides completing the police academy, newly hired officers are put through an intensive training program
known as Field Training. Officers who have completed Field Training Officer School conduct this training. The newly hired employee will
be evaluated daily to ensure they are properly performing their job.
The training is divided into five sections. The first is Administration. In this section the trainee receives their uniforms and other
equipment. The second, Orientation, training is received on the agency’s Standard Operating Procedures, the city’s Rules and Regulations,
and the agency’s required paperwork.
The next three sections are broken into four-week intervals, Traffic, Misdemeanor, and Felony. During this time the trainee is observed
by the FTO on the handling of calls for service with little or no help from the trainer. In the final part of the training program, the
trainee is evaluated on their ability to handle themselves in situations, without assistance from the training officer. After this 22-week
Field Training program the new employee is prepared to join a squad.
|
