Duties of a Dalton Police Officer

The Patrol Division is currently made up of 71 sworn officers.  There are three shifts within the patrol division with each shift made up of approximately 17 officers and 2 sergeants.  With scheduled off days, vacation, training, court, and sick leave, the city generally has about 8 officers and 1 sergeant working each 9-hour shift.

The officer's day starts with a briefing in the roll-call room.  In this briefing, the sergeant goes over any past crime activity the officers need to be aware of.  Following the briefing, the officer gets into their vehicle which will serve as their office for the next 9 hours. 

Inside the vehicle is an array of electronic equipment the officer must navigate to aid them in their duties.  These include the in-car radio, emergency lights, siren, on-board computer, on-board printer, and video surveillance equipment. 

The on-board computer itself has multiple functions and allows the officer the ability to:

• Access to email
• Communicate with other officers
• View what calls other officers are engaged in
• Access personal and vehicle information through the Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC)
• Issue, print, and transmit citations
• Enter incident reports into the department's Records Management System
• Create accident reports that can be printed at the station
• Access municipal codes and ordinances
• Access Records System to view past activity based on location or personal information
• Receive dispatch information sent to laptop from 911 CAD server
• View other dispatched activity including those of Fire, Police, and Ambulance calls
• Access to Reverse 911 Emergency Notification System for alerts

Last year alone the police department responded to over 50,000 calls for service.  We are the only service operating 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year that will respond to any call for any reason.  Once at a location, the officer may find that it is not a police matter and refer the caller to the proper authority but we will respond to the initial call.

In addition to the calls for service, the officer is also responsible for monitoring crime in their sectors by reviewing crime analysis, patrolling streets and neighborhoods, and talking with residents and business owners to gain valuable information about criminal activity or problem areas.  Officers are also tasked with investigating and making reports on motor vehicle crashes within the City.

The officer must possess a wealth of knowledge about both criminal and civil law.  Our calls can range from something as simple as taking a report for stolen property to as complex as determining custody of a minor child to separated parents and as stressful as a domestic dispute or "man with a gun" call .  The officer must also keep abreast of current laws, court decisions, use of force protocol, and departmental policy.

The officer's responsibilities do not stop once the offender is charged.  The officer must be prepared to review past cases in preparation for testifying in both superior and municipal court.  There is also the responsibility of the officer to work with the magistrate court to obtain and serve warrants for crimes they are working.

To all the above, add to it that the officer rotates to a different shift every 6 months, must work most holidays, weekends and special events and it is easy to understand that recruiting qualified individuals who are interested in serving their community can be very difficult.  Luckily, service oriented citizens are still interested in giving back to the community and taking on the enormous responsibility associated with being a police officer.