 |
To affirmatively promote, preserve and deliver a feeling of security, safety and quality services to members of our community.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES |
The City of Atlantis Police Department was formed in 1959, with a full-time Chief of Police and two part-time police officers. Police department staffing now consists of 13 full time sworn police officers, four part time officers, a community service aide, fleet manager, a support services manager, and four full-time dispatchers. The current rank structure of the department consists of a Police Chief, Sergeants, and Police Officers. The department is operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The Police Department has always embraced the philosophy of community oriented policing, long before this concept became a “buzz word” in law enforcement. The department has a very straightforward mission statement, “to affirmatively promote, preserve, and maintain a state of security and safety, and to provide quality service to the members of our community.” Technological advances, such as enhanced E-911 dispatching, Reverse 911 emergency automated community notification, and gatehouses equipped with security cameras and license plate recognition software help to insure a high level of security for the residents of Atlantis and assist the department in the accomplishment of its mission.
Minimum staffing requires that two officers be on duty at all times, with additional personnel available as needs and scheduling dictate. Officers patrol in sport utility vehicles and marked and unmarked sedans. All marked vehicles are equipped with mobile in-car video equipment, laptops with mobile crime data capabilities, radar or laser traffic equipment, a crime scene kit, and photography equipment. As all officers are required to be Emergency Medical Technicians, each vehicle is also equipped with emergency medical supplies such as a first aid kit, oxygen, semi-automatic defibrillator, and other equipment to enable officers to respond to a wide variety of medical emergencies. A number of officers are also certified fire fighters and these officers carry their fire gear and are ready at a moments
notice to switch from law enforcement to fire rescue duties.
Officers are proficient in a number of police specialties; they may be assigned as criminal investigators, crime scene technicians and/or photographers, bicycle patrol officers, evidence storage technicians, code enforcement officers, DUI/traffic enforcement officers, or Traffic Homicide Investigators. Members of the department have also attained certification as police trainers in a number of disciplines, including firearms, defensive tactics, human diversity, ethics, Taser, expandable baton, pepper spray, and other non-lethal weapons. Department trainers instruct outside the agency as well as in, providing training to basic recruits at the police academy, and officers at other police agencies.
The Police Department provides many services to residents and visitors of the City. These services include fingerprinting of adults and children, crime prevention security surveys for homes and businesses, security checks of closed homes and businesses, bicycle and stranger/danger programs for children, and security and police expertise for special city events such as the “Holiday on Wheels Parade” and the annual Health Fair.
While the Atlantis Police Department is a relatively small agency, the department is actively involved with other local police agencies in countywide enforcement initiatives such as the Palm Beach County Multi-Agency Gang Task Force, the Multi-Agency Robbery Task Force, the Multi-Agency Auto Theft Task Force, the Violent Crimes Task Force, and Palm Beach County’s Child Protection Team.
| |
