Operations Division

2023 Behavioral Health Calls

Despite decreased calls suicidality continues to rise. To combat this the Crisis Intervention Team is researching resources.

• Officers responded to 1,273 behavioral health-related calls.
• Citizens threatening or attempting suicide comprised 313 calls.
• Total calls increased by 3%.
• Juveniles comprised 28% of all calls, a 49% increase.

The Traffic Safety Unit aims to reduce motor vehicle crashes and impaired driving by implementing traffic enforcement, education and roadway engineering solutions. The unit is comprised of one captain, two sergeants, seven officers and a parking control officer. It handles special events and four officers are certified to operate police motorcycles for increased effectiveness.

2023 Special Accomplishments

• Officer Josh Wilson was certified as a police motorcyclist.
• Officer Chance Fulford was certified as a drug recognition expert.
• Officers Derrick Liggett and Dixon Ethington were certified as crash reconstructionists.

Uniformed patrol officers staff 10 districts in the City and work a 12-hour day across three shifts. They are the first to arrive on the scene of calls for service and generally initiate all police investigations. In 2023, officers responded to or initiated 114,657 calls for service, a 29% increase over 88,642 in 2022.

Patrol officers are supervised by 12 sergeants, who are responsible for allocating resources as crime trends dictate, monitoring officer performance, answering questions, responding to the scene of critical incidents, approving reports and routing them for investigation.

The Crisis Intervention Team was formed in 2000 to enhance safety and positive outcomes during behavioral health interactions. Over half of all commissioned officers are certified as CIT officers and all officers receive yearly training on crisis intervention techniques and resources. The primary goal of crisis intervention is containment, communication and safety for all involved in a crisis. CIT officers are trained in tactical de-escalation and aim to safely end crisis calls and provide necessary help.

The Crisis Intervention Team is responsible for coordinating responses to crisis calls for service through the implementation and administration of the following programs:

• CIT Officers
• Co-Responder
• Safe Passage
• Youth Vision
• Homeless Outreach

Bicycles are used for proactive patrols addressing crime trends. Their ability to maneuver and approach potential crimes is a benefit to the department and community. Bicycles conduct high-visibility patrols, assist with special events and perform large area searches.

The Drone Program, consisting of 12 certified pilots, is a collateral duty for three divisions. The program is actively training more pilots to expand its availability. The fleet of unmanned aerial vehicles is versatile, suitable for indoor and outdoor flights, and nighttime and inclement weather. UAVs aid in area searches, construction site checks, surveillance and investigations. In 2023, the program logged 114 real-world deployments and assisted in the apprehension of 36 people, demonstrating its effectiveness in various missions.

The Emergency Services Squad is the department's critical incident response unit, responsible for high-risk operations like Search Warrant Service, High-Risk Apprehensions, Barricaded Suspect Resolution and Civil Disturbances.

The Emergency Services Squad includes the Entry, Cover and Negotiations Teams.

The Bomb Squad is part of a larger regional response effort in Missouri and Kansas. Three new technicians graduated from the FBI's Hazardous Device School in Huntsville, Alabama where they learned about explosives, IEDs and render safe procedures. Technicians train twice a month to maintain their skills in x-ray use, robot operations and hazardous device handling and disposal. The Bomb Squad is made up of four certified technicians and one assistant.