ALACHUA POLICE DEPARTMENT IS THE LAW ENFORCEMENT BRANCH OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT.

One of the primary objectives of Alachua Police Department (APD) is to provide a safe, secure community environment for all residents and businesses. APD serves the community by protecting life and property, detecting crime, enforcing all laws and ordinances and promoting the safe, efficient use of the city's streets and highways.

Police Services include, but are not limited to, specialized divisions - Office of the Chief, Patrol Services, Criminal Investigations Unit, Special Investigations Unit, Traffic Unit, School Resource Officer Program, K-9 Services, Community Services and Support Staff Services.

Office of the Chief: Maintains the community and media relations, investigation of personnel complaints, budget and background checks.

Patrol Services: Provides a full range of prevention, suppression, detection of criminal activity, traffic enforcement, traffic crash investigation and initial and follow-up investigations on crime reports. Criminal Investigations involves collecting and studying the facts to identify a criminal offender or determine the guilt or innocence of an individual. Modern-day criminal investigations involve interviews, evidence collection and preservation and, often times, forensic science.

Special Investigations Unit (SIU): Provides an agent to investigate organized crime and drug law violations as a part of the 8th Judicial Circuit. An Investigator is assigned to all crimes that require further investigation and follow-up.

Traffic Unit: Provides technical expertise to the department in the areas of accident investigation, drunk and/or impaired driving detection and arrest and the operation of speed detection devices.

K-9 Unit: Provides support to the Patrol Function and specializes in detecting drug law offenders, apprehension of law violators and locating missing persons. It supports Community Services by giving demonstrations and services as needed to the community.

School Resource Officer (SRO) Program: The SRO assists the school administration in maintaining a safe and secure environment. School Administrators benefit from the SROs training, knowledge and experience in handling situations involving possible weapons violations or in the identification of controlled/dangerous substances. The SRO provides a highly visible presence to deter or identify trespassers on campus. In addition, SROs provide a service to the surrounding community by spearheading community events; such as, Explores program, After School Programs, Back Pack give-a-ways and Shop With-a-Cop.

Community Services: Provides support functions to Patrol Service and the community. An officer is assigned to community crime prevention providing support for all community needs with special emphasis on crime, drug and violence prevention programs.

Support Staff Services Division: This division includes the Communications Center, Records Department, Evidence/Property and other administrative support functions. The Communications Center receives and dispatches calls for service. All police reports are maintained by the records division, and the custodian is responsible for storage and retrieval of such documents, along with the department’s evidence/property room.

Racial/Biased-Based Policing Policy:

Members of the Alachua Police Department are prohibited from engaging in racial or other biased-based policing.

Racial or other biased-based policing means the unreasonable use of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender or religion by a law enforcement officer in deciding to initiate an enforcement action.  It is not racial or other biased-based policing when race, ethnicity, national origin, gender or religion is used in combination with other identifying factors as part of a specific individual description to initiate an enforcement action.

Any person who believes he or she has been subjected to racial or other biased-based policing may file a complaint with the Alachua Police Department Office of Professional Standards. Complaints to the Alachua Police Department may be filed in person, by telephone, or by email to the Office of Professional Standards or any on-duty supervisor.  All allegations of biased-based policing will be investigated by the Office of Professional Standards and all individuals who file a complaint will receive a written disposition upon completion of the investigation.

All law enforcement officers with the Alachua Police Department are required to attend annual racial or other biased-based policing training.