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The Patrol Division, which is under the direction of the Captain of Operations, is best known for the uniformed officers in marked cars, which patrol the different zones throughout Victoria. The Victoria Police Department operates on the concept of Community Oriented Policing, which involves a partnership between the officers and the citizens. Patrol Officers work in permanent zones and work 12 hour rotating shifts. This allows the officers and the citizens to work together to prevent and solve problems.
The primary responsibility of enforcement of traffic regulations of the State of Texas as well as the City of Victoria rests with the uniformed patrol officers as well as any officer who may be temporarily assigned to the Patrol Division.
The Patrol Division, having an authorized strength of over 70 personnel, is the largest division within the department consisting of four patrol platoons plus the Traffic Safey Unit and the Telephone Response Unit. All VPD personnel serving in an officer position have served on patrol at one time.
- Patrol Platoons - Four platoons consist of uniformed officers who answer calls for police service on a 24-hour a day basis. The city is divided into 5 zones, with officers being assigned to each zone. This allows officers to concentrate on smaller areas, learn more about those areas, and decrease officer response time. If you want to find out what zone you live in, see our Zone Map.
- Traffic Safety Unit - Traffic Safety Unit assists the department and other agencies in all areas concerning traffic safety. This unit consists of a Sergeant and four Senior Patrol Officers who enforce traffic laws and investigate motor vehicle crashes including all traffic fatalities occurring in the City of Victoria. They also follow up on hit and run accidents and provide traffic safety education.
- Telephone Response Unit - The Telephone Response Unit, staffed by civilian personnel, assists the investigative function of the department by relieving the non-emergency call load upon the Patrol Officers. Police Service Technicians (PST) began handling calls for service via telephone or walk-ins in January 1994. Everyday activities include completing police reports, providing community services, and enforcing city ordinances relating to parking vehicles on public streets in the downtown area. The PST responds, by phone, to requests and complaints regarding non-emergency incidents including, but not limited to: thefts, burglaries, forgeries, missing persons, lost/found property, assaults, and criminal mischief. The PST also monitors Municipal Court warrants at VPD, attempting to contact subjects by phone and reminding them of the warrant and updating information obtained on persons in an effort to assist the patrol unit in serving these warrants. The PST at the police station also registers bicycles.
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