The Stamford Police Department is the sole, full-time law enforcment agency responsible for public safety in the city.  The Department consists of several different units all falling within six distinct Divisions.  Due in large part to the efforts of the Police Department, the FBI has ranked Stamford as one of the top eleven safest cities in the nation for eight consecutive years.  The Department is firmly committed to a collaborative, cooperative and interactive community policing philosophy.  Division Captains and District Commanders regularly attend meetings of neighborhood associations and community groups and are committed to working with residents to identify and solve community issues before they become crime problems.

The success of the Department has also been achieved in part because the Department has significatly enhanced its capacity to provide excellent police services by adding several specialty units as well as acquiring advanced tactical and technological equipment.  In addition, the Department plans on significantly expanding forensic capabilities as well as implementing advanced tactical training to ensure that the residents of Stamford continue to feel safe and secure in their neighborhoods.

Some examples of the specialty units that contribute to our excellent patrol, investigative and narcotics and organized crime units include: a Special Victims Unit (SUV), an Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC), a Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Squad (CARS), a recently implemented Canine Unit, a Motorcycle Unit, a Marine Division, a soon to implemented Neighborhood Impact Unit and a Summer Camp for Police/Youth.  Our SVU is the first of its kind in the region and was formed to investigate crimes of domestic violence, elder abuse, crimes against people with dimished mental capacity, intimate stalking and harassment and cohabitating sexual assault investigations.  The Unit partners with several state and local agencies as well as several social service providers and has assisted well over a thousand victims in its short lifespan.  Our Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) is the lead law enforcement agency in our regional Task Force comprised of surrounding jurisdictions and the States Attorney's Office.  Our investigators utilize advanced forensic capabilites to locate, arrest and prosecute child sexual predators.  Our Task Force has taken the lead in utilizing forensic tools to address the growing problem of child exploitation via the internet.

Our Collision Analysis and Rescontruction Squad (CARS) is responsible for investigating fatal or serious accidents that may result in a fatality.  All investigators in the Unit have recieved advanced traiing and are experts in the field of motor vehicle acident reconstruction.  The investigators also conduct periodic checkpoints such as Click-It-Or-Ticket seatbelt enforcment and Operating Under the Influence of alcohol checkpoints.  The Department recently implemented a Canine Unit consisting of two officers and two highly highly trainined dogs, and p[lan to add three more dogs by July 2010.  This Unit will Significatly improve the Department's capacity to conduct narcotic searches and in assisting in crowd control situations.  Our Motorcycle Unit operates year round utilizing four motorcycles.  The Unit is responsible for traffic enforcement that include laser equipped radar to detect traffic light and stop sign violations, and most importantly, school bus violations designed to protect our children.  Our Marine Unit operates year round and consists of three vessels including Rocksalt 28 Police Special, an aluminum hulled patrol boat.  The unit has many responsibilities including search and rescue operations, enforcing laws pertinent to the water, maintaining criminal law enforcement on the water and assisting local, state and federal agencies.  The Unit also collaborates with many federal agencies in homeland security operations on our coastline.  A new fourth patrol platoon entitled the Neighborhood Impact Unit will soon be implemented.  The goal of the unit is to address crime in neighborhhods, particularly street robberies, assaults and other violent crimes.  The Unit will work during the peak hours of 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. when most crimes occur.  We anticipate that the increase police presence and visibility will have a significant impact on reducing street crimes in Stamford.  Beginning in summer 2010 the Department will operate youth summer camp designed to strengthen and reinforce positive police/youth relationships.

In addition to the aforementioned specialty units, the patrol, the investigative and narcotics units provide outstanding protection for the citizens of Stamford on a daily basis.  For example, the Narcotic Unit in collaboration with several local and federal law enforcement agencies recently conducted one of the largest undercover investigations in Stamford history that brought down three drug trafficking organizations and resulted in nearly 50 arrests.  This operation will have a profound effect on reducing illegal drug and criminal activity in Stamford.  In fact the Department has officers who work with or are active members of the FBI Task Force, DEA, U.S. Customs & Homeland Security, ICE, ATF and the United States Marshalls.

The Department has also made it a priority to provide officers in the field with as much equipment as possible to ensure officer as well as public safety.  All patrol vehicles are equiped with Triple (A) heavy duty vests and ballistic helmets as well as either a portable shotgun or rifle.  As such, each patrol vehicle is deployed ready for active shooting situations should the need arise.  In addition, all police supervisory vehicles are equipped with ballistic shields and less lethal weapons. This protective equipment ensures that officers will be able to maintain control during crticical incidents or emergency situations.  Also utilized for these purposes are several Special Operations Vehicles used to enhanced traditional public safety and homeland security efforts.  Some examples of these vehicles include: a Mobile Incident Command Center that allows officers to have all necessary tools at their disposal for a crime scene or large event, a Mobile Light Tower that allows for examination in daylight, a Prisoner Transport Vehicle that allows for multiple prisoners to be transported at one time in a segregated and safe environment, an All Terrain Vehicle that has become indespensable in homeland security checks, (2) Hi-Cube Vans that serve a variety of purposes and (4) patrol vehicles equipped with License Plate REaders that enable all "hits" from a hot list to be disseminated to officers in the field in real time.  It is a main priority of the Department to continue to enhance its arsenal of tactical equipment to further solidfy our public safety mission.  Through diligence and hard work, the members of the Stamford Police Department are committed to providing a safe and secure environment for our residents.