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The support services
division is comprised of several different units. Each of these
units has a specific mission, but a common goal: Supporting
operations of the other divisions within the department. From
training to communications to evidence, each of these units
are vital to the operation of the department.
The training unit's
responsibility is to keep the officers of the department up
to date on job-related education. Officers of the West Memphis
Police Department receive training in firearms, report writing,
legal updates, patrol tactics, specialized equipment operation,
and many other facets of law enforcement training.
The evidence officer
is charged with the storage, retrieval, and recording of all
evidence and property stored in the West Memphis Police Department's
evidence vault. The vault contains thousands of pieces of evidence
from guns to illegal drugs to household items. Evidence is stored
in this vault until an officer retrieves it as ordered by a
court subpoena. Once the case concerning a particular piece
of evidence is closed, the evidence may be returned to its owner
or destroyed.
The court bailiff
and his officers are responsible for handling prisoners brought
to the District Court of West Memphis. Bailiffs are also responsible
for maintaining order and security in the courtroom. When the
bailiffs are not conducting business in the court, they serve
outstanding warrants.
The records unit maintains
thousands of documents concerning police department business.
Every report and case file is kept by the records unit. Citizens
may request copies of certain reports from this unit.
The communications
unit handles all telephone and radio traffic within the dispatch
center. Dispatchers take telephone calls for police assistance
and dispatch patrol officers, via radio, to the location requested.
Dispatchers also operate the Arkansas Crime Information Center
and National Crime Information Center computer terminals to
provide officers with information regarding driver's licenses,
vehicle licenses, criminal history information on persons, and
many other data sources. The city warrant files are stored in
the communications center so officers ascertain if a person
is wanted.
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