Akron Police Department

It is the largest subdivision inside the Akron PD. It is further divided into the Patrol Bureau and the Traffic Bureau.Their primary function of the patrol bureau is to respond to calls for service and patrol the neighborhoods of Akron to ensure public order.The Patrol Bureau consists of five patrol platoons in addition to many other specialized units for performing certain specific tasks. [12]The specialized units maintained by the patrol bureau include:

• Patrol Operations :The personnel working in the Patrol Operations group are responsible for commanding all the day to day patrol work performed by the patrol bureau. It is the administrative branch and command centre of the 5 regular patrol platoons of the patrol bureau as well as all the specialized units attached to the bureau.
• Police Information Desk :The information desk entertains the people who come to the police station for various reasons, including filing a non emergency police report or a complaint. It also keeps record of the vehicles towed inside the city
• K-9 Unit:The K-9 teams of the Akron Police Department are not organised inside seperate unit but assigned to the 5 regular patrol platooons during all the patrol shifts and step in when required.The department currently maintains 6 K9 patrol teams and 2 K9 narcotics teams which consist of one sergeant, 5 officers and 6 police dogs.Like all other canine units in the world, it performs crime scene searches as well as detection of people and items. Officers in this unit are also members of the patrol platooons at the same time.
• Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT):Like all other police SWAT teams and similar police tactical units in the U.S and the rest of the world, the SWAT officers of APD are often involved in operations such as responding to extreme emergencies ,confrontations with armed preparators, raids and dignitary protection.
• Court/Building Security:Established in 1981 as the Court Liason Detail to provide court security, this unit provides security for all the 6 municipal courts in Akron and has also been providing security to Harold K .Stubbs Justice Center since 1996.
• Motorcycle Unit:The motorcycle officers of the department are assigned to this unit and are involved in traffic patrol, dignitary escort and representing the department at ceremonial events.
• Police Community Relations :This group consists of officers who are responsible for planning and coordinating the community work performed by the department.
• Police Honor Guard:The officers who volunteer to serve in this part time ceremonial guard represent Akron Police at functions, parades, funerals and other related ceremonies.Officers inside this unit are serve in other full time units and are called upon only to serve as a part of the honor guard only in times of need.
• Neighborhood Response Team:The NRT is the Police group responsible for nurturing the departments relationship with the communities of Akron.They frequently attend community programs and events.Like the honor guard, it is a part time division and officers inside this unit are assigned to other full time units when not attending events.

The Traffic Bureau enforces traffic laws, is in charge of traffic management for special events and is also involved in traffic patrol. They are often the first responders to vehicular accidents. The Bureau’s other specialized function include Hit Skip,Commercial Vehicle Weight Enforcement and Traffic Crash Reconstruction.The traffic crash reconstruction unit investigates fatal or serious accidents and felonies and analyses crashes,evaluates equipment requisitions and assists in criminal investigations where motor vehicles are involved.[12]