Uniformed Patrol 24/7 Citywide Unit Essay

Introduction

The uniformed police patrol unit is responsible for maintaining law and order in a city or municipality, whether while driving or on foot. Firstly, the uniformed officers are involved with crime prevention. They patrol specific geographic areas, where they identify signs of criminal activities (Fellner, 2009). They have the authority to arrest, warn, or cite any offender or suspect they confront. Secondly, they investigate accidents by taking written statements from victims, directing traffic, interviewing witnesses, assessing the scene and providing first aid.

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Purpose in the Taskforce

The uniformed patrol unit is essential in the task force due to the nature of its operation. It has the mandate to prevent violent crimes such as "flash Robs" in the city. Secondly, it has the necessary artillery and equipment, such as patrol vehicles, essential in the apprehension of the violent groups. The unit will patrol the entire city focusing on identifying any signs of the gang or members of the group. Secondly, they will be the first responders in case of a theft occurrence involving the youths. Thirdly, they will interview business owners and estate leaders to identify more information on the group's whereabouts.

Criminal Gangs Unit

The law enforcement unit identifies threats caused by gangs in a city or a given geographical area. It assists local authorities and federal agencies to minimize gang-related crimes. Additionally, it provides residents safety against gangs and seeks intelligence on their activities to suppress their existence in society (Fellner, 2009). The unit is comprised of two to four police officers per geographical area. Firstly, the primary role of the unit is to monitor suspected gang members and their activities. Secondly, it gathers intelligence assets to provide essential information on a gang's plans, resources, and objectives. Thirdly, it engages local authorities in investigation and apprehension of gang members. It is also responsible for seizing narcotics and weapons from gangs

Purpose in the Taskforce

The criminal gang unit will be useful in gathering the gang's intelligence, which will assist other agencies in apprehending the criminals. Significantly, the unit will infiltrate the gang by developing specific assets to provide the task force with information on the gang's plans. The department will also monitor suspected gang members to identify their hideouts, where they sell stolen goods, and their partners in the city.

Crimes against Property Unit

The unit investigates crimes against property such as burglaries, theft, shoplifting, arson, vandalism, and larcenies in commercial and residential areas. The force is categorized into stolen goods and destroyed property sub-units to increase its effectiveness (Fellner, 2009). Typically, the force comprises of two or four police detectives per sub unit. The detectives interview witnesses, potential suspects, and crime victims. They also keep proper documentation of the investigation findings to assist in the prosecution of suspects. Additionally, they search and recover stolen property.

Purpose in the Taskforce

The primary reason for including the unit's detectives is to locate and recover stolen goods from the community stores in the city. They possess the essential equipment to conduct the activity. They will utilize intelligence from the Criminal Gang's unit to search for gang members. Significantly, they will issues offenders with warrants of arrest and help the Attorney's office prosecute them. Additionally, they will seize any weapons used by the gang to terrorize city residents.

Citywide Camera Watch Unit

The police unit utilizes surveillance cameras in the city to identify criminal activities in real time. They have access to modern state of the art surveillance equipment fitted in most parts of the town (Berger & Zhang, 2016). Notably, detectives from this unit infiltrate gang residences and install secret surveillance cameras to capture communication and identify real members. They will work closely with other police departments by providing relevant information.

Purpose in the Taskforce

The primary reason for incorporating this unit into the task force is to provide real-time information on theft and burglary in the city. The unit is capable of utilizing various private and public CCTV cameras in the region to monitor the movement and reorganization of the gang members. Moreover, it will provide visual evidence concerning suspected gang leaders and members. The unit will also track the movement of stolen goods in the region to enable apprehension of all theft masterminds.

Cyber Crime Unit

The unit is a specialized section of the virtual police department that deals with investigation and detection of crimes that involve computers or the internet. The officers are trained in information technology. They trace crimes such as hacking and cyber fraud (Berger & Zhang, 2016). Moreover, the unit supplements other police departments by providing information relating to cybercrimes. It also analyses digital information and preserves investigation data securely.

Purpose in the Taskforce

Since most of the flash gang's activities are planned over the internet, cyber intelligence is necessary for the task force. The will investigate and identify how the criminals manage their activities via social networks. Additionally, the force can use its expertise to track gang leaders through their social media profiles.

Criminal Records Police Unit

The department stores all police reports and records. The unit also supplies other private and public agencies with reports on individuals of interest to assist in a criminal investigation (Lynch, 2014). The records include information on arrests, accidents, and convicted felons. Significantly, the department has strict confidentially standards and only disseminates information on the authorization.

Purpose in the Taskforce

The unit will aid in profiling the gang's suspects. In this case, the joint task force will use arrests records to identify significant suspects. The information enables the police to reduce their scope of investigation by concentrating on a few members. Moreover, criminal profiling is essential to identify those individuals who have similar or repeated tendencies to cause public disturbances.

Units that will not be Part of the Taskforce

Homicides Units

The homicide department is responsible for murder investigations and apprehension of the offenders. Notably, homicide detectives have much experience in police work. They also have intra-departmental training, which helps them develop their skills (Lynch, 2014). They are among the first responders to a homicide case. They work in collaboration with forensics to identify any leads regarding murderers. They also engage investigation and interviewing of suspects to build up a prosecution case.

Reasons for exclusion

The unit is not required in the joint task force since theft crimes are out of its jurisdiction. The police have not received any case of murder linked to the "flash gang."

Animal Control Unit

Animal control units respond to the public's request for help with various animals, which may cruel and life-threatening, such as wild animals or distressed animals (Pound, 2018). Municipalities or counties employ them. Notably, they are concerned with capturing, restraining, and impounding of dangerous animals in the city.

Reasons for exclusion

The department will not be involved since the case at hand is far beyond the unit's security clearance. Animal control officers lack appropriate knowledge and equipment to fight violent crimes in the city

Sex Crimes Police Department

The sex assault team investigates sexual offenses and harassments involving members of the public. Detectives in this field have sufficient training pertaining the personal, sensitive, and invasive nature of sexual assaults.

Reasons for exclusion

The unit is not relevant in the joint task force since the crimes at hand do not involve any cases of sexual assault on the crime victims.

Narcotics

They investigate drug distribution and abuse in the community (Pound, 2018). They work with other agencies to identify cases of drug trafficking and maintain public safety.

Reasons for exclusion

The unit was not involved in the task force since the police have not registered any cases of drug abuse or peddling among the gang members.

Additional Non-departmental Units in the Taskforce

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)The FBI is an investigative department delegated by the federal government. It investigates crimes that infringe human rights and are a concern to national and local security (Pound, 2018).

Purpose in the task force

The FBI has a vast range of resources and intelligence that can supplement local enforcement police to arrest the offenders faster. The unit will also seek any linkages between the gang's operations with other groups across the country.

District Attorney (DA)

The district attorney is concerned with the prosecution of criminals and other offenders in a local area such as a county (Neubauer & Fradella, 2018). Additionally, the District attorney's office collaborates with local law enforcement units to investigate crimes

Purpose in the task force

The DAs can help the task force open charges on potential offenders once they are captured. They can also represent the city on the grand jury and propose for the prosecution of members of the gang.

References

Berger, L., & Zhang, L. (2016). Substance use and street violence: An Interview with Ruben Burgos, senior lecturer in Criminal Justice and retired police lieutenant of the Milwaukee Police Department. Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, 16(1-2), 222-228.

Fellner, J. (2009). Race, drugs, and law enforcement in the United States. Stan. L. & Pol'y Rev., 20, 257.

Lynch, G. E. (2014). Our administrative system of criminal justice. Fordham L. Rev., 83, 1673.

Neubauer, D. W., & Fradella, H. F. (2018). America's courts and the criminal justice system. Massachusetts, United States: Cengage Learning.

Pound, R. (2018). Criminal justice in America. Abingdon, United Kingdom: Routledge.