Welcome to the Davis Police Department’s website!
As your Police Chief, I am pleased to have this platform to connect with you and share the Department’s commitment to making our community a safe and welcoming place for everyone. The Davis Police Department strives to build strong relationships with the community we serve, fostering an environment of trust, respect, and collaboration. We recognize that effective policing requires partnership and open communication, and we are committed to achieving this.
I am extremely proud of the women and men who make up the Davis Police Department. Our members are trained to respond to the diverse needs of our community, and we are constantly seeking innovative ways to improve our services and enhance public safety. We believe in proactive policing and community engagement, focusing not only on law enforcement but also on crime prevention and community education. Our members embrace their role as community partners and focus on providing quality service.
In addition to our law enforcement responsibilities, we are actively involved in various community programs and initiatives that promote safety and well-being. Whether through outreach programs, educational workshops, or community events, we aim to strengthen the bond between our Department and the community we serve.
I invite you to explore our Department’s website, where you can learn more about our services, access important information, and stay updated on our initiatives. Your feedback is crucial to our success, and I encourage you to share your thoughts and ideas with us. You can also follow us on Facebook (City of Davis Police Department) and Instagram (@davispolicedepartment) for frequent Department updates.
Thank you for entrusting us with the responsibility of keeping our community safe. Together, we can create a vibrant and secure environment for all members of the public, the “Davis Way.”
Chief Todd Henry
There are three primary sections of the sworn team: Patrol, Investigations, and Professional Standards.
Patrol
The Patrol Division is the largest division in the Police Department. The Division includes 5 patrol teams and the Traffic Unit. The Patrol Division is staffed with 2 Lieutenants, 6 Sergeants, 5 Corporals, and 31 Officers.
Patrol handles thousands of calls for service each year, ranging from very minor non-criminal issues to major crimes in progress. The Division embraces community policing and relies on partnerships in order to be successful in reducing and preventing crime.
Investigations
The Davis Police Department's Investigations Division is a support unit for patrol and assumes responsibility for complex investigations including homicides, robberies, sexual assaults, crimes against children, burglaries, hate crimes, identity thefts and major property crimes.
The Investigations Division is staffed by a lieutenant, a sergeant, 5 detectives, and one Police Services Specialist. Detectives are usually assigned to one of two assignments: crimes against persons or property crimes.
Detectives work Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but are subject to call outs for investigative purposes 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
If you have any information on a case that the Investigations Division is currently working based on a press release or personal knowledge, please call 530-747-5400.
Professional Standards
The Professional Standards Division (PSD) is responsible for maintaining a high level of professional conduct within the police department. The PSD performs a variety of functions, including: investigating citizen complaints, maintaining complaint files and training department personnel. Because this division reports directly to the Chief, it can objectively address complaints against agency personnel.
With respect to training, the PSD ensures that department employees meet California Police Officer Standards and Training (POST) criteria, and receive regular training in additional areas such as: Use of Force, First Aid/CPR, Tactical Communication, Cultural Awareness, Emergency Driving, and Crisis Intervention.
Details regarding the Independent Police Auditor can be found on the Annual Report & Transparency Portal.
Detail about Commending quality performance, submitting a complaint, and the Alternative Conflict Resolution can be found on the Contact Us page.
The non-sworn team are distributed through the department. The have many functionality from evidence management, patrol support, investigations support, administration and more. The three largest sections of non-sworn team members are in record, code/parking enforcement, and dispatch.
Records
The Davis Police Records Division is often seen as the information center for the Department, as Records Specialists provide a wide range of information both to Department employees as well as the public. The Records Division is open Monday through Thursday, and every other Friday from 9:00 am – 5:30 pm. The Records Division is staffed with 1 Records Supervisor, and 3 full time Police Records Specialists. Specialists are responsible for answering non-emergency telephone calls, assisting the public at the front counter of the police department, reviewing and disseminating reports to the public and outside law enforcement agencies and preparing arrest reports for the District Attorney’s Office. Additionally, our Specialists data enter and route all traffic and criminal citations, process warrants issued by the court, and complete background checks for outside agencies. Additional duties include providing parking permits to the public, processing various City permits, and numerous other tasks that keep the department operating smoothly.
Code/Parking Enforcement
Dispatch
Great Dispatchers have the ability to perform multiple tasks simultaneously, while making critical and even life-altering decisions. Dispatchers must work under pressure, never letting the severity of the last call show through to the next caller. Excellent communication skills are necessary to skillfully serve a socially, economically and culturally diverse population. It is important to have logical thinking and problem-solving skills. Dispatchers need a strong sense of community service and motivation to spend nights, weekends and holidays away from their own families since the Dispatch Center never closes.
The Davis Police Dispatch Division is comprised of 12 full-time employees. Dispatchers work 12 hour shifts, just as patrol does. The Dispatch Center is open for business 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, with a minimum staffing of 2 on each shift. As the first line for help, Dispatchers are often called "the true first responders"
Public Safety Dispatchers are responsible for answering all 9-1-1 phone calls, and Police and Fire emergency lines, determining the type of assistance needed and sending emergency personnel to police, fire and medical emergencies. Dispatchers also answer the police business lines as a backup for the Police Records Division, "ring-down" lines which link the Communications Center to each Fire Station, UC Davis Police Department, and callboxes which have a direct connection to the elevator in the parking structure at First and F Streets and the Putah Creek Bicycle Tunnel. After regular business hours, Dispatchers answer incoming emergency and non-emergency lines, as well as City of Davis emergency calls for Parks & General Services and Public Works Departments. Dispatch also pages out SWAT, Hostage Negotiators, and Police and Fire Investigators for special duty when incidents necessitate additional resources.
Dispatchers are responsible for all radio communications for both Police and Fire responding to emergency, non-emergency, and routine radio traffic. They also coordinate communications with allied agencies within Yolo, Solano, and Sacramento agencies when aid is requested.
Davis PD Dispatchers are also expected to complete various kinds of paperwork processing. As Officers take reports of stolen vehicles, property, missing persons, etc., Dispatchers are responsible for entering this data into the Department of Justice and National Crime Information Systems, as well as entering towed/impounded vehicles, private property/reposessed vehicles, and restraining orders issued from the courts into various databases. Internally, Dispatchers process the Mail Out Report Forms (MORF's) offered to citizens for non-emergency crime reports, create shift and media bulletins, and send administrative notifications.
Test to 911 FAQs
The Davis Police Department in conjunction with all Yolo County dispatch centers are excited to announce that we will begin accepting text-to-911 service throughout Yolo County on December 3, 2018. Wireless customers can now send a text message to 911 in an emergency. It is important to note that text-to-911 should only be used in an emergency situation when placing a call is not possible. For example, if the caller is deaf, hard-of hearing, speech impaired, or if speaking out loud would put the caller in danger.
If you need to text 911, remember these steps:
· Don’t text and drive
· Include your location and the type of emergency
· Do not use slang, abbreviations or emojis
· Be prepared to answer questions and follow instructions
· Do not send pictures, videos or other types of media
· Do not group text with 911
If text-to-911 is not available you will receive a bounce back message; You must call 911 to receive assistance.
Text-to-911 FAQ
What is Text-to-911?
Text-to-911 is the ability to send a text message to a 911 dispatcher from your mobile phone or handheld device.
Can I text 911?
Text-to-911 is not available everywhere and is not always available when roaming. You must subscribe to your wireless carrier’s text or data plan in order to make or receive text messages. If text-to-911 is not available in your area or is temporarily unavailable, you should receive a message indicating that text-to-911 is not available and to call 911 for assistance.
When should I text 911?
Text-to-911 is intended primarily for use in three emergency scenarios:
1. For an individual who is deaf, hard-of-hearing, or has a speech disability.
2. For someone who is in a situation where it is not safe to place a voice call to 911.
3. A medical emergency that renders a person incapable of speech.
What are some of the challenges with text-to-911?
As with all text messages, they may take longer to receive and respond than a voice call and could be received out of order or not at all. Texting 911 also does not provide an accurate or reliable location of the texter as text GPS information is not equal to current wireless phone call location technology. Voice calls are real time communication while texting is not. Additionally, translation services are available with voice calls. At this time, translation services are not available for text-to-911; please text in English only.
How do I text 911?
· Enter the numbers “911” in the “To” or “recipient” field;
· The first text to 911 should be short and include the location and nature of the emergency;
· Push the “Send” button;
· Answer the questions and follow instructions from the 911 dispatcher;
· Text in simple words. Do not use abbreviations, slang or emojis;
· Keep text messages short (140 characters or less);
· Do not send pictures or videos to 911.
How will I know if 911 received my text?
A 911 call center should respond to the text. If text-to-911 is not available, you should receive a message from the wireless carrier stating that text-to-911 is unavailable and that you must place a voice or relay call to 911.
Is there a charge to text 911?
Standard text messaging rates apply to text-to-911.
