Headquarters Patrol
Structure
Headquarters Patrol is commanded by a Sheriff's Department
commander, who reports to the assistant sheriff in charge
of the Operations Division. Patrol deputies are assigned
to one of four watches and work one of two shifts. The individual
shifts are composed of a sergeant, a senior deputy, and
three or four deputies.
Shifts
The uniformed patrol deputies assigned to Headquarters work
a twelve hour daily shift. The shifts run from 0500 hrs.
to 1700 hrs. and from 1700 hrs. to 0500 hrs. This means
a deputy will work four days one week and three days the
next. One day during the two week pay period is eight hours
long to complete the required eighty hour schedule. Deputies
are assigned to a beat area for a minimum of two years.
This enables the deputy to become thoroughly familiar with
the area he or she works and to know its residents.
In addition
to routine beat assignments, the senior deputies (corporal)
act as field training officers and also fill in as shift
supervisors when needed. Each senior deputy is routinely
sent to the Commission on Peace Officers' Standards &
Training (P.O.S.T.) Supervisors Class as well as Field Training
Officer School.
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Duties
Deputies of the Kings County Sheriff's Department are considered
to be "generalists." They are expected to investigate
most cases from beginning to end. This includes processing
the crime scene, interviewing victims and witnesses, and
arresting the perpetrator. In high profile cases, or cases
requiring certain areas of expertise, a detective may be
assigned.
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Patrol Cars
The Kings County Sheriff's Department issues a fully equipped
black and white patrol car to each uniformed deputy. The
deputy is permitted to take the patrol car home at the end
of his shift. This has resulted in increased sense of pride
by the deputy in his car and equipment as he or she is responsible
to see it is properly maintained and kept clean. The advantages
of this Take Home Car Program are better maintained patrol
cars, which results in longer service life, and increased
visibility throughout the community.
The patrol cars are now in the process of being equipped
with mobile display computer terminals which will permit
deputies to be dispatched to calls more efficiently. Also,
the deputy will have full access to computer databases maintained
by the Sheriff, the California Department of Justice, and
the National Crime Information Service. Access to these
databases would be by data link using the Sheriff's communications
radio frequencies.
Community
Oriented Policing
Each deputy sheriff is also expected to take an active role
in the community. Our personnel are involved in everything
from being members of the local Kiwanis Club to helping
coach Little League baseball teams. The Sheriff's Activity
League (S.A.L.) attracts many deputies due to their desire
to work with children. Deputies also instruct in the department
sponsored "Citizens on Patrol" academies and the
department's Explorer Scouting program.
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