Police Support Units

The Oklahoma City 911 Communications Center is a division within the Oklahoma City Police Department. The center is the largest Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) in the state of Oklahoma by volume. The PSAP is staffed with specially trained, non-sworn employees, who are responsible for answering approximately 1 million calls annually on the 911 and 231-2121 (7-digit emergency) lines. All calls are treated as an emergency until determined otherwise. Calls are triaged for services needed, if police are needed the information will be entered into our Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) and dispatched to police officers in the field. The 911 Communications Center has 70 budgeted non-sworn positions. The facility operates twenty-four hours a day; seven days a week to serve the residents of Oklahoma City.

The Air Support Unit was established in 1973 and consisted of only one helicopter, four officers and one supervisor. As the City of Oklahoma City grew, the demands on the Police Department and the Air Support Unit required an expansion beyond the initial needs during the early years of the unit.

The Air Support Unit is now comprised two helicopters, ten pilots, one lieutenant and two civilian personnel who serve as mechanical technicians. The Air Support Unit falls under the command of the Uniform Support Division.

The Department currently uses two recently purchased 2014 Airbus H125 helicopters to fly missions and provide support to police officers throughout the metro area. Missions include searching for suspects attempting to elude capture and locating lost or missing children and adults.  Pilots assigned to the unit are police officers who have undergone extensive training and flight time to attain pilot certification and proficiency ratings. The Police Department partnered with the Fire Department to purchase a Bambi bucket to drop water on fires. The Air Support Unit has trained with the Fire Department on the use of the Bambi bucket and will continue training and rescue operations in the future.

The mission of the Oklahoma City Police Department Bomb Squad is to provide experienced service for the safe resolution of both criminal and non-criminal incidents involving explosives. The Bomb Squad promotes public education in the areas of bomb threats and development of organizational procedures in handling potentially explosive incidents. Bomb technicians accomplish this by making public presentations and providing technical support when requested.

The Bomb Squad was created in 1971 to handle the expanding number of hazardous encounters with explosive materials. At the time there was no single entity within the City or county that was capable of safely handling and disposing of explosive materials. Given the fact that some of the explosives were designed and used for criminal purposes necessitated the need for a police unit capable of safely handling, disposing of and investigating explosive incidents.

Nationwide, all certified bomb technicians receive six weeks of basic training at the same facility, the FBI Hazardous Devices School, Redstone Arsenal, in Huntsville, Ala. Bomb technicians receive highly specialized training in the utilization of specifically designed tools and equipment for the safe disposal and criminal investigation of explosive incidents. The Oklahoma City Police Department’s Bomb Squad is a federally certified and accredited unit. The Bomb Technicians assigned to the Bomb Squad are federally certified and must maintain a minimum number of annual training hours to retain individual certification.

The O.C.P.D. Canine Unit was established in 1963 with five handler/dog teams for the purpose of locating suspected criminals in hiding and finding evidence. The unit is currently comprised of nine canine teams and a police lieutenant who serves as the unit supervisor. The mission of the Canine Unit is to provide trained police canine teams to assist in the prevention and detection of crime, locating persons sought by the police, promotion of a favorable public image of the Department and to carry out other duties as may be directed by the unit supervisor. This includes but is not limited to the enforcement of all applicable laws, statutes, and ordinances to ensure the safety of citizens within Oklahoma City.

The Canine Unit may also be called upon to assist other specialized units in unusual or extraordinary circumstances. This may include the Tactical Unit, E.R.T., Special Projects, IMPACT, and the Bomb Squad.

The Crime Scene Unit is comprised of sixteen investigators. The purpose of the Crime Scene Unit is to provide the best possible services in investigations and photographic analysis of a crime scene. The objective is to achieve the highest possible level of efficiency in crime scene investigations.

The primary duties and responsibilities of a Crime Scene Investigator consist of processing collected evidence and maintaining appropriate chain of custody to preserve crime scene evidence for presentation in court.

Essential job functions include conducting inspections of crime scenes for the presence of evidence such as latent fingerprints, footwear and tire impressions, firearms evidence, blood and other physiological fluids, controlled substances, and trace evidence such as hair, fibers, and gunshot residue. They document crime scenes by using general and comparison photography, note taking and sketching and/or diagramming crime scenes, to include 3D laser scanning. They collect and preserve latent fingerprints by using standard powder, chemical, and/or photographic techniques.

The Data Systems Unit was created in 1994. The purpose of the unit is to provide assistance to police department personnel in the identification and selection of technology-based systems. The unit can also develop software, as needed, enabling personnel to deliver a more efficient and effective service. The unit is tasked with maintaining technology which is essential to Department operations, as well as the safety and welfare of employees and residents of the City of Oklahoma City. The unit is staffed by a captain, a lieutenant, four sworn and three non-sworn members of the Department.

The purpose of the Fleet Management Unit is to provide vehicles and associated equipment needed for departmental operations. Fleet Management is comprised of one sworn Fleet Manager and two professional staff employee positions. The unit is supervised by the Planning and Research Unit Lieutenant and Captain. The unit maintains records and coordinates vehicle maintenance and repairs when needed. Fleet Management personnel research equipment options and provide guidance in the purchase and implementation of new emergency equipment installed in police vehicles.

The Oklahoma City Police Department Honor Guard is a voluntary unit comprised of active duty officers and retired officers. It is a long-standing tradition that the Honor Guard honors those Oklahoma City police officers, active or retired, who have died or have been killed in the line of duty, as well as officers from outside agencies that are killed in the line of duty. It is the responsibility of the Honor Guard Unit to assist in ceremonial presentations, funerals, Colors presentations, and any other function deemed appropriate by the Chief of Police. Acting under the authority of the Office of the Chief of Police, the Honor Guard stands ready to perform at the request of the Chief of Police.

The O.C.P.D. Planning & Research Unit is a fundamental function of the department which is geared towards strategic planning and the research of new ideas and programs. The unit is comprised of three sworn and three professional staff positions. Supervisory staff consists of one lieutenant and one captain. The captain reports to the major over the Administration Division. One of the unit’s main functions is to develop written directives and programs that enhance the mission of the department. In addition to these functions, the unit is tasked with special assignments upon the request of the Chief of Police and the Executive Staff. The unit is responsible for oversight of the department’s accreditation process in the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Accreditation Program (OLEAP). The unit conducts comprehensive reviews and analyses of departmental operations, procedures, personnel, and facilities to ensure compliance with OLEAP.

Property Crime Specialists, or PCS, work under the Laboratory and Support Services Division in the Investigations Bureau of the Oklahoma City Police Department, under the direct supervision of a police lieutenant. The primary purpose of a PCS is to respond to non-emergency calls for police service, such as property crimes, public nuisance complaints, vandalism crimes, and other incidents that do not require the presence of a commissioned police officer.

Essential job functions include:

• Conducting initial criminal investigations in the field and/or over the telephone;
• Completing crime incident and/or supplemental information reports;
• Interviewing crime victims and witnesses;
• Performing basic crime scene processing for property crimes, such as, collecting latent fingerprints, swabbing for DNA, collecting and packaging potential evidence, taking crime scene photographs, submitting evidence, and introducing evidence or testifying in court.

The position has regular contact with an immediate supervisor, sworn law-enforcement personnel, and residents who may be victimized. Assignments are received from an immediate supervisor both verbally and in writing. The work products are reviewed by a supervisor or technical staff for overall quality, accuracy, and adherence to departmental policies and procedures.

Currently, there are sixteen Property Crime Specialists assigned to the unit and two police supervisors. These personnel are assigned to work in each of the four patrol divisions. Their normal work hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. They can be identified by their City ID badge and uniform, consisting of a navy shirt and navy pants. Their uniform shirts have the City seal, “The City of Oklahoma City”, their name and “PCS” on the front. The backs of their shirts read “Property Crime Specialist.”

The Real Time Information Center (RTIC) leverages existing and emerging technology to increase safety for the community and our officers while making us more efficient in identifying and combatting crime. The Real Time Information Center aims to improve situational awareness for officers in the field in real time, improving officer and citizen safety while respecting the individual rights of the public we serve. It is also a collaboration between law enforcement and the community. The RTIC is designed to enhance communication and trust by leveraging technology responsibly. Citizens and businesses can become a part by registering or integrating their cameras to help combat crime.

To find out more information, please click the link: https://connectoklahomacity.org/.

The Oklahoma City Police Department’s Tactical Unit was established in 1973 to address the on-going needs for officers responding to situations requiring equipment and training beyond the scope of normal police training. The Tactical Unit is utilized to deal with dignitary protection, barricaded suspects, hostage situations, or any event where a requirement exists for special operations or tactics. The primary operational mission in high-risk situations is to contain and isolate the danger. Negotiations shall be the primary function of the Tactical Unit. The use of force should be used only as a last resort to resolve the situation when all other means have failed.

The Tactical Unit, when ordered by the Unit Commander, initiates a pre-planned action with the goal being the apprehension of the suspect(s) with minimal danger to the hostages, bystanders, the citizens of Oklahoma City, or police personnel. The safety of everyone involved is more important than the quick apprehension of the suspect(s). As circumstances dictate, the Tactical Unit takes whatever action is necessary to resolve the situation.

The Oklahoma City Police Department is adapting to meet the changing needs of a growing City. The mission of the new Traffic Safety Unit is to reduce collisions through education, enforcement, and evaluation of data. This team is made up of officers with specialized abilities working toward a common goal: to make the streets of Oklahoma City the safest in the nation.

OKCPD is on the cutting edge in public safety, and they are taking the lead in traffic safety too. You will see traffic enforcement operations happening all around the metro. These activities are guided by the evaluation of collision data. The desire is for the motoring public to join the cause by driving safely, observing all the rules and regulations of the road.

The purpose of the Wellness Unit is to provide holistic support to aid in the wellness of the officers and civilian employees of the Oklahoma City Police Department. The Wellness Unit strives to provide psychological support, as well as promote financial health, physical wellbeing, and resilience education. The Wellness Unit endeavors to identify new and innovative wellness resources for the entire police family.

The Wellness Unit prioritizes the development of partnerships with culturally competent health and wellness providers in the larger community who can provide expert advice and consultation services. This includes, but is not limited to, medical doctors, licensed mental health professionals, researchers, financial experts, retirement experts, fitness instructors and clergy. It is important for unit members to stay up to date on research and best practices related to wellness programs.

The Wellness Unit serves all individuals within the police family, regardless of their personal beliefs, religious affiliation, and/or sexual orientation. The unit members take pride in assisting anyone, and everyone.

The Wellness Unit is comprised of sworn officers, civilian personnel, police chaplains, culturally competent mental health clinician, family support personnel, and therapy/support canines. All Wellness Unit members have attended appropriate ICISF CISM courses.