Special Services Division
SPECIAL SERVICES DIVISION (Special Projects):
The Special Services Division is administered by the Special Services Lieutenant who reports directly to the Major. The Special Services Lieutenant is responsible for support functions of the Operations Division. The Special Services Lieutenant will be responsible for the Detective Bureau, C.L.E.A.N., School Resource Officer and DARE programs, Do The Right Thing program, Property and Evidence, Crime Scene, Auxiliary Officers and programs, Boat, Bike and Beach Patrol, Homeland Security, Beach Parking Program, and Dark House Programs. The Special Services Lieutenant will attend various meetings and functions as required by the Chief of Police or Police Major.
Command Structure and Chain of Command
Chief of Police
Major
Special Services Lieutenant
Sergeants
Detective
Civilian employees assigned to Special Service
Responsibilities
Responsibility 1: Follow-up investigations – Officers assigned to the Detective Division follow-up criminal reports based upon information and leads in unsolved crimes.
Responsibility 2:Property validations – All criminal complaints with a report of theft are entered into the FCIC and NCIC computer systems. This information must be validated in the system on regular time tables to ensure the database is accurate and has updated information.
Responsibility 3: Crime scene investigation – All criminal complaints receive an investigation and documentation of all evidence collected at the scene of the crime. This includes collecting, preserving all evidence and documenting all actions taken at the crime scene. For major crimes the Lee County Crime Scene Investigators will be requested to assist.
Responsibility 4: Analysis of evidence – The crime scene investigator causes the appropriate analysis of all evidence, to include laboratory testing of substances through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Responsibility 5: Disposition of evidence – The property and evidence manager disposes all evidence when there is no longer a need, based on the case being closed. The property is returned to the owner, destroyed or sold at auction.
Responsibility 6: City Council security - Provide Sanibel City Council police security during public meetings as required.
Responsibility 7: Participate in the Lee County Marine Advisory Council – Police staff participates in the Lee County Marine Advisory Council monthly meetings to participate in education and enforcement initiatives regarding county and municipal maritime issues. The primary goal of the Marine Advisory Council is to increase safety and awareness of boating and environmental issues and enforcing speed regulations in manatee zones.
Responsibility 8: Liaison for City of Sanibel Marine Advisory Committee – Police staff participates in the monthly Marine Advisory Committee meetings and relays information regarding marine safety and enforcement issues.
Responsibility 9: Participate in the Gulf Coast Intelligence committee – Police staff participates in the monthly Gulf Coast Intelligence committee meetings to discuss regional criminal events and develop plans to participate in solving crimes as well as share information on likely targets for criminal elements.
Responsibility 10: Participate in the Lee County Public Safety Coordinating Council – Police staff participates in the Lee County Public Safety Coordinating Council monthly meetings for coordination, discussions and planning for court diversion programs, mental health diversion programs and procedures for working in concert with all services that handle the processes regarding incarcerated persons.
Responsibility 11: Participate in the Domestic Security Task Force – Police staff participates in the quarterly Domestic Security Task Force meetings for updates on the most current intelligence regarding terrorist activity and for discussions on improving communication networks.
Responsibility 12: West Coast Inland Navigation District Grant Program – Police Department staff prepare grant requests for funding to pay for marine patrol, marine equipment, educational brochures and facility improvements. Staff attends grant meetings annually and provides quarterly status reports to WCIND. These grants partially fund the marine patrol function.
Responsibility 13: Implement D.A.R.E. Program – Police Department personnel implements a standardized, nationally recognized and certified drug awareness and education program for elementary and middle school students. Police staff are be responsible for presenting the information to the students in an environment conducive for learning. This position is partially funded by the School Board of Lee County.
Responsibility 14: School Resource Officer Program – Police Department staff is responsible for security during school hours and at after school events; act as the Department liaison with the Sanibel School and will participate in off site field trips to ensure safety and stability and to enforce school Code of Conduct policies. This position is partially funded by the School Board of Lee County.
Responsibility 15: Neighborhood Watch Program – Department staff provides information to homeowners associations regarding the implementation of a Neighborhood Watch program.
Responsibility 16: Weigh Station – Department personnel manages budget, weighs vehicles, collects fines, maintains and staffs the Sanibel Weigh Station.
Responsibility 17: Complete new hire background investigations – Staff completes in-depth background investigations on new hires, including: voice stress tests, candidate neighbor interviews, criminal history background checks, and assessment of the candidate’s character. This information is compiled into a report along with drug screening, physical and psychological evaluations for certified law enforcement positions.
Responsibility 18: Coalition for human trafficking – Department staff participates in training, intelligence and coordination regarding human trafficking and slavery with other law enforcement agencies and coalition members.
Responsibility 19: Human Smuggling Task Force – Department staff participates in training, intelligence and coordination regarding illegal smuggling of illegal immigrants.
Responsibility 20: Gang Task Force - Department staff participates in training, intelligence and coordination regarding local gang activities.
Responsibility 21: Crime Prevention Program – Department staff provides information to the public regarding tips to reduce the prospects of becoming the victim to a crime and to alert the public to current crimes occurring in the community.
Responsibility 22: Police Auxiliary Program – Supervise the members of the Auxiliary Officers, provide them with guidance and request their participation in special details and other assignments; and attend their monthly meetings.
POLICE DEPARTMENT PARKING ENFORCEMENT - OPERATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES.
Responsibility 23: Parking decal program – Police staff is responsible for the sale and management of the parking decal program; including design and contract for printing the permits, sales for residents, non-resident property owners, non-residents, collection of monies for the permits, storage and management of data from applications and delivery of parking decal receipts to the Finance Department.
Responsibility 24: Parking enforcement – Police staff patrols public parking lots to ensure each vehicle is in compliance with City parking ordinances. If a vehicle is in violation, it is issued a parking citation.
Responsibility 25:Collect parking revenues – Police staff collects monies from the paid parking lots and deposits the revenues into the bank. Credit card receipts are downloaded from the machines and onto a dedicated software program, then to a credit card clearing house. The revenues are accounted for and tracked by both the Finance Department and Police Department to ensure checks and balances.
Responsibility 26: Track parking vacancies – Police staff conducts manual counts on all paid parking lots seven days per week and generates a report for parking lot vacancies.
Responsibility 27: Parking machine maintenance – Police staff performs repairs and preventative maintenance on the parking machines at all paid parking lots.
Responsibility 28: Parking Program management – Police staff schedule all activities and needs for parking enforcement, budget preparation, revenue statistics and sale of resident and non-resident parking decals.