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Field Operations

The Field Operations Division is the fundamental service delivery team of the police department. It consists of all the personnel you might see in uniform, usually driving marked police vehicles. This division accounts for over 70% of the police department's measurable workload. Services are provided by this division 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. These officers are highly trained, multi-talented, and capable of handling any call for service as a first responder.

The structure of the division includes a Captain as the Division Commander; the Division Commander's Secretary; one lieutenant as the adjutant; three lieutenants as watch commanders; one Traffic sergeant with five officers; six sergeants as shift supervisors; six corporals as assistant shift supervisors; twelve Community Service Officers (CSO's); fifty-seven police officers; and five School Resource Officers. These men and women are responsible for serving as first responders to over 90,000 people spanning 59.95 square miles.

Aside from responding to calls for service -- which range from highly critical calls to very minor incidents -- most officers are assigned to one or more subunits or specialty programs. Some of those units are listed below (units not shown here include: Hostage Negotiators, Court Liaison, Field Training Officers, Crowd Control Team, Firearm Instructors, Bicycle Team, School Resource Officers, and Peer Support).

Other responsibilities performed by Patrol include assisting the City and local civic groups in planning and executing strategies for various special events, such as the Redding Air Show, Fourth of July Freedom Festival, parades, and Kool April Nights.

The All-Terrain Motorcycle Unit has six dual sport motorcycles that have both on and off road capabilities. The motorcycles are regularly used for patrolling the river trail, parades and special events like Kool April Nites and 4th of July celebrations.

Three of the motorcycles were donated to the city by the McConnell Foundation, and the other three have been loaned to RPD by Fator’s Motorcycles.

In order for officers to participate in this program they must first pass a 40-hour training course.

The Honor Guard is responsible for honoring dignitaries, peace officers, presenting colors at ceremonies and special occassions, at the direction of the Chief. The unit consists of a lieutenant, sergeant and eight officers, typically selected for their soldierly appearance and superior discipline. Members are skilled at drill and ceremony procedures, and wear ceremonial Class A police uniforms.

The Canine Unit consists of four dog/handler teams (a team consists of an officer and a dog). A corporal supervises the teams and a lieutenant oversees the program. The drug detection dogs are trained to detect the presence of various illicit drugs and alert their handler. Three dog/handler teams are trained as protection/tracking dogs and are trained to protect their handlers, search for wanted or missing persons, and find articles of evidence.

When not on duty, the dogs live with their handlers and the handler’s family. The dogs are available for various demonstrations to educate the public about their skills.

The Defensive Tactics Unit is responsible for training all sworn police personnel in tactics of arrest, self defense, control holds and impact weapons. Personnel from the Field Operations and Investigations Divisions are trained as instructors. Two Corporals and a Lieutenant oversee the program. They train on a regular basis to provide all officers with the skills necessary to negotiate the numerous physical hazards associated with law enforcement. Their goal is to provide police officers a measure of safety and to reduce officer and suspect injuries during arrest situations.

Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT)

The SWAT team was formed to assist with critical incidents within the City. These incidents include barricaded suspects, hostage situations, armed & dangerous persons, serving high risk search warrants or high risk arrest warrants, and other details outside the capabilities of regular patrol staff.

SWAT officers are trained in the use of specialized equipment and techniques beyond that of patrol officers. Currently SWAT consists of one tactical commander, one assistant tactical commander, one tactical coordinator, two team leaders, two assistant team leaders and twelve team members.

Community Service Officers (CSOs)

The Redding Police Department employs several individuals as Community Service Officers. The CSO’s are responsible for handling non-hazardous situations, gathering information and generating reports for calls for service including most “after the fact” thefts, injury and non-injury traffic collisions, lost and found property, runaway juveniles and missing persons. CSO’s assigned to the Crime Prevention Unit teach the City’s Neighborhood Watch program and participate in other specialized crime awareness prevention programs. CSO’s are also routinely assigned to the Vehicle Abatement Unit, Court Liaison position, False Alarm Reduction Program, and the Telephone Response Unit. CSO’s who become ID Technicians are responsible for the identification, documentation, preservation and collection of evidence at various crime scenes including homicides, sexual assaults, officer involved shootings, burglaries, or any other incident where the need for evidence collection or processing may arise.

Community Service Officer Bob Brannon supervises a crew of Shasta County work release inmates who are responsible for cleaning up everything from blackberry bushes to vacated homeless camps. Many illegal dumping sites have been picked up by this crew in an effort to stop the sites from becoming a public hazard due to the accumulation of more discarded items.

The Redding Police Department Traffic Unit’s mission is to improve traffic safety and compliance of the traffic laws. The Traffic Unit consists of six motorcycle officers, one sergeant, and two non-sworn Abandoned Vehicle Abatement officers. Their multi-faceted role emphasizes traffic enforcement and major collision investigation/reconstruction. Corollary duties include training of other department members, coordinating special events, and interacting with city and state officials on traffic safety issues. 

Crime Scene Unit (CSU)

The mission of the CSU is to assist Field Operations and Investigations by documenting, collecting, and preserving physical evidence at crime scenes. CSU works closely with state and federal agencies including the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the FBI.

The CSU team consists of a full time Crime Scene Technician and an Investgations Sergeant. The team has 10 Field Evidence Technicians, consisting of police officers and community service officers, who perform field ID work at various crime scenes including homicides, sexual assaults, officer involved shootings, and burglaries.