About
the Elmira Police Department
In 2006,
the Elmira Police Department was staffed by 81 sworn police officers with an operating budget exceeding 5 million dollars.. They handled over 43,000 radio calls and made over 2,600 arrests. The Elmira Police Department is organized into two large components – Operations and Administration. The Operations component contains the patrol platoons, traffic bureau, detective bureau
and special operations.
According
to the Elmira Police Department, “The Patrol Division consists of approximately 60 sworn personnel. Each officer has
completed training mandated by the Department of Criminal Justice Services and is empowered by state law to carry firearms,
conduct criminal investigations, make arrests, and testify in court. During each shift, officers in patrol cars are assigned
a specific section of the city to patrol. Patrol officers are dispatched by the Chemung County Communications Center to provide
assistance, investigate crimes, make traffic stops, and enforce laws.”
Of the
Detective Bureau, the Elmira Police Department states, “The Elmira Police Department Detective Bureau is tasked with
the responsibility of several functions, most important of which is the follow-up of felony level cases and misdemeanor cases
with special circumstances. The Detective Bureau also has the responsibility for maintaining criminal intelligence records,
tracking and maintaining files pertaining to registered sex offenders living within the City of Elmira, evidence collection
and processing, submissions of evidence to regional crime labs, and the collection of monies for local businesses that have
received bad checks.”
The Elmira
Police Department's Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team consists of 14 Officers from the Elmira Police Department. The
Team has responsibilities that include but are not limited to executing search warrants for the Chemung County Drug Enforcement
Unit, serving any other high risk warrants that are determined to be beyond the capabilities of patrol officers, assisting
with Hostage/Barricade situations, and Dignitary Protection details. The SWAT
Team has strict firearms and physical fitness entry-level requirements. Once appointed, each member of the Team must continue
to meet very strict quarterly firearms qualifications and biannual physical fitness qualifications. The SWAT Team trains an
average of 20 days per year.
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