Columbus Division of Police

Columbus Division of Police
Common name	Columbus Police
Abbreviation	CPD
Motto	Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Discipline, Enthusiasm
Agency overview
Formed	1816
Employees	2,264
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction	Columbus, Ohio, USA
Size	223.11 sq mi (577.9 km2) (2013)
Population	842,528 (2016)
General nature	• Local civilian agency
Headquarters	Columbus, Ohio
Police Officers	1,848 (2016)
Civilians	416 (2016)
Agency executive	Kimberley Jacobs, Chief of Police
Subdivisions	List Administrative Investigative Patrol North Patrol South Support Services Homeland Security
Facilities
Precincts	20
Motorcycles	31
Police Boats	5
Helicopters	5
Canines	10
Horses	10
Website
Columbus Police Website

The Columbus Division of Police is the main policing unit for the city of Columbus, Ohio United States. It is the largest police department in the state of Ohio, and among the 25 largest in the United States.^[1][2] It is composed of 20 precincts, and the Chief of Police is Kimberley Jacobs. Columbus is ranked the 38th most dangerous city in the United States according to the 2009 City Crime Rate Rankings.^[3] Special units of the Columbus Division of Police include a Helicopter Unit, Canine Unit, Mounted Unit, Community Response Teams, Marine Park Unit, and Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team.^[4]

In 2003, there were 1,779 sworn police officers and 349 civilian staff. In 2016, the numbers rose to 1,848 sworn officers and 416 total civilian staff. The estimated total budget was $244,575,878 in 2009, which rose to $310,139,284 for 2016.^[5]

In April 2012, Deputy Chief Kimberley Jacobs was named the 32nd chief in the Division's history, and the first female chief in the division.^[6]

Structure

Columbus Police Headquarters

The Columbus Division of Police has a total of six subdivisions. The subdivisions include the Administrative, Investigative, Support Services, Patrol South, Patrol North, and Homeland Security. Each subdivision is commanded by a Deputy Chief. The nature of each task to be performed determines which subdivision has responsibility and authority. As of 2015, the department has 460 marked patrol vehicles, 410 unmarked vehicles, 31 motorcycles, 154 bicycles, 5 boats, 10 horses, 10 canines, and 5 helicopters.^[5]

Rank Structure

Current rankings are as follows: (As of 2016)

Chief of police	1
Deputy Chief	6
Commander	17
Lieutenant	54
Sergeant	225
Police Officer	1,545

CPD 2015 Organization Chart

Marked vehicles

Columbus Division of Police, new cruiser design after 2014.

CPD Cruisers prior to 2014

The Columbus Police standard marked patrol fleet consists largely of Ford Police Interceptor Utility,^[7] Ford Police Interceptor,^[8] and Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor models. The Ford E-350 and Ford Transit 250 are used as Prisoner Transport Vehicles (PTVs).

Marked Vehicles can be identified by the numbered "license" plates. Two, three and four digit plates show the precinct number followed by the car number. So a plate bearing the number 55 is precinct-5 car-5; where plate 190 is precinct-19 car-0. Vehicles outside the standard precinct structure, i.e. Freeway Patrol, and Motorcycle Patrol also follow this pattern, where their unit is given a unique "precinct" number. For example, Freeway Patrol cruisers start with 6. Community Liaison cruisers begin with 3. Marked vehicles with a four digit starting in "9" are "mid-watch" assignments with the same pattern for their respective precinct.

The letter "R" as a prefix to this system denotes a "relief car". Plate R-106 is used because the 10th precinct has a regular vehicle in maintenance or repair. The letters "S" and "L" stand for Sergeant and Lieutenant, and denote that vehicle assigned to that ranked officer assigned to the following numbered precinct or zone: S-12 is the Sergeant for Precinct-12 and L-1 is the Lieutenant for Zone-1. The letter "T" Denotes a "Training" vehicle assigned to the Police Academy. The letter "X" stands for "eXtra"; X-Cars are kept at the city fleet management facility and are available to officers for special duty. "R" and "X" cars are, usually, re-numbered "retired" patrol cruisers in good condition.

In previous years, CPD utilized the Chevrolet Impala, Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Caprice, Plymouth Gran Fury, and Ford LTD II as cruisers.

Equipment

• Pepper Spray
• Taser
• Smith & Wesson M&P .40 S&W
• Smith & Wesson M&P15 5.56x45mm NATO
• Colt AR-15 5.56x45mm NATO
• M16 Rifle 5.56x45mm NATO
• Remington 870

Special Duty

Some police duties that are required by law or requested by the general public fall outside the realm of normal, everyday procedures. For example, Ohio Law requires that only a Law Enforcement Officer may close a public road, or a lane thereof, without establishing a legal, marked detour(for road closure), or using concrete barriers (for lane restrictions only). In the event of a short-term construction project, a law enforcement officer must be on site to legally close the area to traffic.^[9]

Columbus Police are permitted to work "Special Duty" assignments, upon approval, while off duty. Special Duty assignments can include anything from closing highway lanes for short-term road construction, to directing traffic for events, escorting a funeral procession, or providing security for private businesses, such as banks or stores. Most special duty assignments are paid for by the organization requesting the officers presence. However, while on Special Duty, the officer works for the City of Columbus, regardless the posting, and can be called upon by On Duty personnel if needed.

See also

• List of law enforcement agencies in Ohio

References

External links

• Columbus Division of Police web site