• Communications Section
• Custody Specialists
• Community Service Officers

• Bicycle Team
• Field Training Program

PATROL SERVICES BUREAU
1150 W. Brookside Ave, Redlands, CA 92373
(909) 798-7681 • Fax (909) 798-7639

Lt. Dan Shefchik, Bureau Commander
Telephone (909) 798-7612

The Patrol Services Bureau is commanded by a lieutenant, who supervises the five patrol teams. Each patrol team is comprised of a sergeant, who serves as the shift Watch Commander, a corporal, who serves as the Field Supervisor, five officers and one traffic officer. Each team has officers trained in specialty areas such as; Crime Scene Technician, Field Training Officer, and Rangemaster.

Patrol Officers work a 12 1/2 hour day (6:00 am or pm to 6:30 am or pm), three days per week, plus one 10 hour day each month. The officers are assigned to one of five different geographical areas or beats, covering over 36 square miles. Officers are assigned to the same area for twelve months at a time, which gives the officer an opportunity to make contact with business owners and the community on a more personal level. This also serves to keep the officer in touch with the needs and expectations of the citizens, along with providing a climate for problem identification and resolution.

Risk Focused Policing operates by identifying risk factors in the community, and controlling crime before it happens. The Redlands Police Department evolved to focus on doing more than reacting to crime after it happens, by identifying the risk factors leading to crime we can combat them and prevent crime. Some examples of Risk Focused Policing includes School Resource Officers; Redlands Drug Court, Alcohol Related Crimes Investigations and our Recreation Bureau's after school programs.

In addition to the patrol teams, the following units and auxiliary programs are supervised by the Bureau Commander; Communications Section, Community Service Officers, Custody Specialists, Police Reserves, Law Enforcement Explorer Post, Police Chaplains, Bicycle Patrol Team and Field Training Officers. Patrol sergeants are responsible for coordinating the day-to-day activities of these groups, all of which play an important role in the continuing success of the department.

The Communications Section is a significant component of the Redlands Police Department, providing a vital link between the community and its police officers. Communications personnel are often the first person someone in need of emergency assistance has contact with. Communications personnel interpret the individual's needs and coordinate the response of appropriate services to meet those needs. These highly trained individuals are responsible for providing assistance to callers on more than twenty five incoming telephone lines including; 911 emergency, alternate emergency and business lines. In addition to answering the multitude of phone lines, communications personnel are tasked with dispatching calls via radio and a Computer Aided Dispatch system. They also monitor over a dozen different radio channels. These radio channels include all of the frequencies utilized by the various units of the department, local government and other allied agencies. With the state of the art equipment available to the dispatchers, they can directly link any Redlands Police Department officer with officers from other area agencies on a unified channel. This radio link capability is especially useful during vehicle pursuits into other jurisdictions and when responding to mutual requests for assistance.

Currently the Communications Section is staffed with 12 full time dispatchers who respond to hundreds of telephone and radio calls each day.

The Redlands Police Department, under contract with the Wackenhut Corporation, employs civilian Police Custody Specialists. The Wackenhut Corporation is currently one of the world's largest providers of security and investigative services. Locally, Wackenhut provides services to our department and the San Bernardino and Rialto Police Departments.

The Custody Specialists provide around the clock support to the department in the area of jail security, processing of criminal arrests and prisoner transportation. In the past, all of these bookings and prisoner transports would have been the responsibility of the officers assigned to patrol. The primary benefit of this service is the freeing up of officers to spend more time in their assigned areas.

The Custody Specialists who work at the Redlands Police Department are trained in Federal and State laws and department policies dealing with jail facilities and prisoner security. They also receive training in First Aid, C.P.R. and other areas critical to their assignment. The Custody Specialists take great pride in their work and have proven themselves to be an extremely valuable asset to the department.

The Redlands Police Department employs a total of seven civilian Community Service Officers. Five of the Community Service Officers (C.S.O.) are assigned to the Patrol Services Bureau and one to the Traffic Safety Unit. The primary function of the C.S.O. assigned to the Patrol Services Bureau is to relieve patrol officers of handling non emergency calls-for-service and reports. Typical investigations and reports taken by C.S.O. include; burglaries, auto thefts, vandalism, runaway juveniles/missing persons, and other crimes where the suspect is not present. In addition to their report responsibilities, C.S.O. are certified as Crime Scene Technicians and spend much of their time processing crime scenes and collecting evidence. C.S.O. are also cross trained as dispatchers and often provide coverage and relief in the communications section.

The Redlands Police Department bicycle team was formed in 1993, with six to eight police officers assigned to the team. The bikes were used in a variety of activities which included downtown, business area, apartment and park patrol, along with special events. As the officers increased their proficiency, the bikes were utilized for night time patrols. These night time patrols were designed to provide officers with a quieter and more effective mode of transportation to apprehend criminals who operate under the cover of darkness. These patrols have been very successful in deterring criminal activities in our parks, business districts and apartment complexes. In addition to their effectiveness, the bicycles provide an alternative mode of transportation which helps to reduce pollution, traffic congestion and fuel costs.

Bicycle patrols are also utilized by the Community Policing Officers, Parking Control Officers, Reserve Officers and Citizen Volunteers in their daily activities.

The Redlands Police Department has a comprehensive 24 week Field Training and Evaluation Program. Trainee officers receive 22 weeks of structured training under the constant supervision of a certified Field Training Officer, then participate in a two week "ghost" phase, where they receive their final evaluations and are certified to work alone. The Field Training and Evaluation Program consists of, but is not limited to; department orientation, officer safety, use of force, report writing, "high risk" traffic stops, accident investigation, traffic enforcement and community oriented policing. Each new police officer, whether a recent graduate of the police academy or a lateral transfer, must successfully complete the field training program.

The Field Training and Evaluation Program is coordinated by a sergeant who oversees the nine police officers who are certified as Field Training Officers (F.T.O.). Each officer chosen to serve as an F.T.O. must have demonstrated the ability to train others and attend a 40 hour Field Training Officer course.

When should I call 911?
The emergency 911 system should be used to report emergency situations that are in progress or just occurred, such as traffic collisions, fires, medical problems and crimes. To report incidents that are not life threatening or do not require the immediate response of emergency personnel, calls should be made to the business line at (909) 798-7681.

Why should I report minor thefts, vandalism or losses my insurance company won't cover? Whenever you are the victim of a crime you should report it so that the activity can be tracked and potential crime trends noted. By doing this you may alert the department to a problem we were not aware of and save other members of the community similar losses.

I wish to report a minor incident, but don't want to trouble an officer with responding to my home or business. What can I do?
You can stop at the main police building or any one of the four community policing offices and file a report. In many instances the required information can be gathered over the telephone to complete any needed report, which is a time saver for all involved. You may also file a Non-Investigated Report, available online here.

Can I report my peace being disturbed even though it is not after 10 p.m.?
Yes. While the common rule of thumb suggests that you can only report loud noises, music and similar disturbances if they occur after 10 p.m., these incidents can and should be reported at any time of the day or night when your personal peace is disturbed by the activity.

I'm going to be away from my home or business for a period of time, can I arrange for extra patrol?
Yes. To make a request for extra patrol of your home or business call the business line at (909) 798-7681 and ask for a Vacation House Check. The dispatcher will obtain the needed information and forward the request to the patrol officers working the area and also to the Civilian Volunteer Patrol for periodic checks of the property.

I'm interested in more information about the Reserve Unit; hiring, duties, training, etc.
Additional information about the Reserve Unit can be obtained from the Personnel Department in regards to hiring and testing, (909) 798-7514, and from Sgt. Jeremy Floyd, the unit coordinator, in regards to specific duties and training at (909) 798-7681. The San Bernardino Sheriff's Academy can be contacted at (909) 381-6575 for information regarding reserve classes and schedules.

Traffic Check Point Program

The Redlands Police Department conducts traffic checkpoints for a number of important reasons. Checkpoints are a very effective way to contact large numbers of drivers in a short period of time. During these contacts several goals are accomplished. Educational information related to all types of traffic issues can be handed-out. This information can be general in nature such as raising awareness about drunk driving, pedestrian safety or bicycle issues. The information can be area specific such as educating drivers about parking laws around a specific school, or traffic problems in the area of a specific neighborhood. This direct contact with drivers is the primary reason checkpoints are conducted. Checkpoints also allow officers to check for unlicensed drivers. It is a statistical fact that unlicensed drivers are responsible for a significant percentage of hit-and-run collisions, and are less likely to possess insurance as required by law. Lastly, checkpoints frequently result in the arrest of persons who are driving while under the influence of alcohol or some other substance. We believe that locating, and arresting a driver who is under the influence of alcohol or drugs before they are involved in a collision is literally a life saving effort.

The selection process for determining where checkpoints are held is based on a number of factors including the location of alcohol involved collisions, the volume of cars utilizing a specific section of roadway, access to vehicles entering areas of the city not already exposed to the information provided at checkpoints and as a response to specific complaints of traffic problems form members of the community. Checkpoints conducted by the police department are funded by the State of California Office of Traffic Safety through several different grants.

The attached maps depict the locations of alcohol related traffic collisions, the location of the traffic checkpoints and driving under the influence arrests, conducted during the last year.

If you have any questions regarding the use of traffic checkpoints, or the information provided at this site please contact the traffic supervisor Cpl. Ricky Smith at 798-7610.