The Uniform Patrol Division is comprised of one Major, four Lieutenants, ten Sergeants, ninety Police Officers, and one civilian.
The Uniform Patrol Division is the most visible aspect of any police department. Functions include crime reporting, traffic and criminal law enforcement, community service activities, and response to medical emergencies, natural disasters, and civil disturbances.
The Uniform Patrol Division operates three shifts to provide 24 hour coverage. Each shift has three squads that are staffed with a sergeant, and up to twelve officers.
The Field Training Program is a critical function of the Uniform Patrol Division. The program is staffed by volunteer officers and sergeants who are committed to providing individualized training to new recruits. All recruits must successfully complete the riding assignment portion of the program. New recruits are monitored by Field Training Sergeants during a probationary period until the probation period is fulfilled on the completion of one full year as a sworn officer.
The K-9 Unit
The current Coral Gables Police K-9 Unit includes:
1) A working K-9 Sergeant/Handler and five K-9 Handlers/Officers for a total of six dogs in the Unit.
2) All current dogs are male Belgian Malinois.
The K-9 Unit duties and mission are threefold:
To bring to justice all criminals who flee from crime scenes or otherwise attempt to defeat criminal apprehension, to support patrol in whatever way is practical and to promote Departmental goodwill to the public. When not tracking or searching, K-9 handlers respond to calls for service and provide much needed back-up services to other Units. K-9 handlers are also utilized in action plans, and are popular at Police Department demonstrations to the community.
Crisis Management Team
The Crisis Management Team is comprised of the SWAT Team and Hostage/Crisis Negotiators. Together, members work in resolving various crisis situations such as barricaded subjects, hostage situations, dignitary protection, high-risk warrant and highly volatile situations requiring tactical responses.
SWAT team members are also members of the City of Coral Gables Rescue Recon Teams. Rescue Recon Teams are the leading component of the City Emergency Management response to natural disaster recovery efforts.
The Crisis Management Team conducts tactical operations from a one of a kind mobile command vehicle called the “Emergency Response Unit.”
This vehicle contains all of the necessary specialized equipment for SWAT and electronic communications equipment for crisis negotiators. The purchase and implementation of this vehicle has reduced the response time significantly to the critical incidents that the Crisis Management Team responds.
In November 2008, the Coral Gables Police SWAT Team traveled to Camp Blanding and received 40 hours of tactical training from instructors in the United States Army. Additionally, the SWAT Team placed in the top third of all departments that participated in the International SWAT Round-Up that took place in Orlando, Florida.
