Patrol Division
The uniform patrol division of the Jackson Police Department is the backbone of the force. It consists of dedicated man and women who's primary responsibility is to respond to calls for service, assist citizens, conduct preventive patrols, conduct traffic enforcement and investigations into criminal activity in their districts.
The department recently adopted citywide community policing to foster closer relationships between the officers and the citizens they serve. Officers are assigned specific geographical grids and are responsible for addressing community problems that affect the quality of life of the citizens in that grid. Officers either directly address the problem or serve as a referral agency to put citizens in contact with the service providers than can solve the problems.
All entry-level officers are trained at the Tennessee Law Enforcement Academy and through a comprehensive orientation and field training program once they are assigned to the division.
After two years officers can request to transfer, as positions become available, to one of the division's specialized units which include: Canine dog handlers, department's full time Tactical Team, the Gang Enforcement Team and the Community Crime Reduction Unit.
Specialized training is available for officers. The Patrol Division includes officers specialized as canine handlers, hazardous materials experts, DUI and drug and alcohol enforcement, bomb squad technicians and aviators. The Patrol Division's Traffic Safety Coordinator is also a member of the Traffic Safety Coalition.
In addition officers are trained in special tactics to deal with critical incidences and natural disasters and have specific assignments in the department's Mobile Field Force.
Officers can also opt, after two years, as positions become available, to apply for a position outside the Patrol Division in one of the department's other divisions including Criminal Investigations, Administrative Services, Community Relations or Support Services.
Those officers that opt to remain in the Uniform Patrol Division are graduated through the Master Patrol Program, ultimately resulting in pay parity as a top patrolman with Criminal Investigators and Sergeants.
