The Police Department has 150 employees organized into the following divisions and units:
Administrative Services Division
This division includes the Police Chief, the Assistant Police Chief, an Administrative Assistant and the Personnel and Training unit.
Personnel and Training:
To provide professional public safety services through comprehensive hiring, training and development of employees. To attract, hire and retain qualified applicants who reflect the diversity of the community and provide the highest level of professional public safety services. This unit consists of a Lieutenant, a Training Supervisor, a Program Assistant and an Administrative Associate.
Field Services Division
Patrol:
To provide the public with initial police response to emergency and non-emergency requests for service in a coordinated and timely manner.
Investigative Services Division
Detective:
To apprehend and prosecute offenders and/or resolve investigations in a timely and thorough manner.
Property and Evidence:
To collect, process and store evidence to aid in the identification and prosecution of offenders and to appropriately return/dispose of property upon completion of an investigation.
Traffic Team:
To minimize injury and property damage by promoting a safe and orderly flow of pedestrian, bicycle and vehicular traffic.
Parking Enforcement:
To manage, enforce and resolve vehicle parking regulations and issues in an effort to facilitate the timely movement of vehicles and provide for public safety within the City of Palo Alto.
Police Reserves:
To bring men and women of the community together to assist and supplement Department personnel in law enforcement efforts.
Special Operations
To provide police services to assure a safe environment for community special events while minimizing disruption to the public through appropriate planning and staffing.
Animal Control:
To ensure the protection and well-being of animals and people by providing responsive and proactive animal services.
Technical Services Division
This division is responsible for all support services in the Police Department.
Communications:
To provide coordinated, responsive and reliable 9-1-1 dispatch services.
Records:
To process and provide useful, accurate and timely police information to support all levels of public service.
Technology/Crime Analysis:
To manage all public safety automated systems, as well as production of all statistical and management reports, for both the Police Department and the Fire Department.