Virtual Police Department Task Force
The project is centered on the creation of an eight (8) unit, task force and a strategic action plan to
address an increase in violent crime (homicide, sexual assault and robbery). There have been some
indications of gang and drug related connections to the violence which has been the subject of public,
political and community demand for action.
- Identifying 6 and only 6 departmental units that will be included in some manner on the task force from
the Virtual Police Department Table of Organization chart. (See Virtual Police Table of Organization.)
Note: All of Patrol (Commanders A, B and C, Captains, Lieutenants, Sergeants, COPs and Patrol
Officers) is 1 single unit. ALSO: Selection of a “Commander” (e.g., Special Operations Commander) as a
Unit includes the official and their immediate office staff. It does not include each of the subordinate units.
Virtual Police Department Task Force
There has been an increase in gang related cases as well as violence that has become an
alarm to the public, political and community thus demanding for actions. With this reason, there
is the need for the creation of six units that are being included in the task force and strategic plan
VIRTUAL POLICE DEPARTMENT TASK FORCE 2
to combat the crime. This paper discusses various departmental units in a Virtual Police
Department that are being included in the special task force to combat the crime.
The six units that are being included in the task force are the Chief of Police
Investigations Division, which include Narcotics, Vice, and homicide department. It is being
followed by patrols department, then special operations division also called Resource Officers
department, the fourth department will be Support Services Division. Fifth is Civilian staff this
will be in the organization of police department. Lastly, the sixth department which is ranked the
highest in the departments is the Chief of Police (COP).
The Chief of Police is entitled to, directing, planning, as well as coordinating all duties of
the departments that are under this department. He/she may also make proposals or even go
ahead in amending the legislation that existed and that were directly affecting the law
enforcement. He appointed to this position because of the responsibility for all enforcement of
the law that are being undertaken by all the officers as well as departments that are under him or
her. It will be impossible to operate without this head of departments. It will be providing the
required direction that are being followed by the other departments in combating crime, as well
as law and order maintenance (Bellah, 2012, p.24). The role of Chief of police in the task force is
to manage and ensure that other units perform their duties in an efficient manner by providing
the resources required by the departments. The head of this department will be able to coordinate
with other head of departments.
The Chief of Police Investigations Divisions will be responsible for directing and
managing the four sections in this departmental unit. This division is being entitled to
investigating homicides, assaults robberies enforcement of drugs, gang related cases, the
kidnappings auto thefts as well as sexual assaults. The Chief of Police Investigation Divisions
VIRTUAL POLICE DEPARTMENT TASK FORCE 3
will be coordinating and providing public assistance in reporting of crimes as well as the
provision of information about the investigation that has been carried out to the other
departments. It will be able to investigate to the latter of all crimes cases and in accordance with
the law the culprits will be transferred to other departments for prosecution (Bellah, 2012, p.22).
This department is crucial in the task force since any policing without this department will lead
to unconcluded investigations and the prime goal of combating crimes will not be achievable.
The functions that are being carried out by the police under patrol unit are majorly being
related to crimes. They offer a quick response to public orders and emergencies twenty-four
hours per day and seven days per week. Their service includes prevention of public order and
peace, identifying offenses of crime and activities of criminal, enforcing order and the law,
apprehending the offenders and offering the general rules of traffic. The function of the Patrol
Division Commander is to regulate the overall operation of the division of patrol under
instructions of the police chief. He has the authority of division in dealing with issues concerning
the policy, matters of operations and discipline. Also, he exercises directives of law being needed
to guarantee the actual operation of the division. Different operation shifts comprising of patrol
officers are being headed by the commander with the rank of lieutenant. Their responsibility is to
make sure that there are sufficient monitoring and personnel performing the duty throughout the
time of the shift. The shift is being controlled by the patrol supervisor with the rank of Sergeant.
He guides and supervises the personnel in the operation. The sufficient patrol presence prevents
planning of crimes, opportunistic crimes, and the crimes that entails preparation and planning are
probably being displaced. Increasing the number patrols on the foot increases public satisfactory
and reduces public fear. Crimes are being curbed well by providing rapid response to clearly set
expectations concerning the response and attaining them. The patrol department assists the other
VIRTUAL POLICE DEPARTMENT TASK FORCE 4
departments through recording of facts and preparation of reports that document activities and
incidences (Cordner, 2015, 56). They pursue crime suspects and arrest perpetrators that are under
the investigation and testify in courts during evidence presentation in cases of crimes and traffic.
The unit is being used since it deals with crime and crime related activities. The civilian police
unit comprises people who are not sworn in. They play a vital role in the task force since they
work directly with the police. Among the civilian staff is the information technologist who
controls the flow of information within the units in the task force. Other officers are the call
takers, trainers, human resource, and technicians of ID, officers of packing enforcement and
examiners of the latent print. This unit is being chosen since it offers special servicer that are
being required and not found in the other units.
The special operations division also called Resource officers main role in the task force
includes law enforcement. Their main duty is ensuring that the law is enforced to kip young
children safe. They implement this by crimes investigation and taking enough measures against
the culprits. They also provide counseling in the law enforcement this will ensure that the task
force build enough relation with the members of the community. Lastly, this unit will offer
education on law enforcement for them to understand when and how their rights are being
infringed. The task force will benefit with this department simply by ensuring that community
members get accessed to all the information they require (Bellah, 2012, p.21).
Support Services Division include Communications, Records, and evidence locker
personnel. This department is responsible for all the people who are assigned to the
Communication Center, maintaining as well as renovating the facilities, record keeping or Center
for Information, Computer and IT services. This departmental unit is important in the task force
VIRTUAL POLICE DEPARTMENT TASK FORCE 5
since in any case handled records as well as provides vitals communication to the policing
department.
Other policies units which are not being included in the task force are the auxiliary unit,
deputy chief unit, internal affairs unit, and administrative unit. The auxiliary unit provides extra
Police Officer to facilitate manpower during the time of natural disasters and emergency
condition. It is not included in task force since there is sufficient Program to enhance manpower
in the other units and to meet all possible emergencies. The deputy chief unit performs the task
of the chief unit in its absence, or it performs the delegated task. It is not being required since the
chief unit is present, and no task is available for the delegation from the head. The internal affairs
unit deals with issues within the police units. It is not being included because the affairs of the
police units are not being related to crimes. The administrative unit is not necessary since the
chief’s unit covers most of their duties.
VIRTUAL POLICE DEPARTMENT TASK FORCE 6
References
Bellah, J. (2012). Los Angeles police department (LAPD). Police fleet Manager, 10(6), 22-22,
24, 26
Cordner, G.W (2015). Police Administration. London: Routledge.
