Captain Barry E. Graham Support Services Bureau Commander
Support Services Bureau The Support Services Bureau consists of the Criminal Investigations Division/Team and the Special Services Division/Team. The Support Services Bureau is under the command of a Captain who reports directly to the Deputy Chief of Police. The Captain is responsible for the overall efficient and effective management and administration of the Support Services Bureau and exercises direct supervision over the Division Lieutenants. The Criminal Investigations Division (CID) consists of four components: the General Investigations Section, the Special Investigations Section, the Crime Analysis Unit and the Property Control Unit. This Division has primary responsibility for the investigation of more serious or complex offenses, crime analysis and evidence/property control functions. The Special Services Division/Team consists of two components: the Community Services Section and the Staff Services Section. The Special Services Division is commanded by a Lieutenant, who reports to the Support Services Bureau Captain. The Special Services Division Commander is assigned as the Department’s Training Manager/Coordinator and is responsible for the management and administration and coordination of all specialized, remedial, in-service, roll call and advanced training (internal and external), including field training programs and recruit training programs. The Community Services Section is supervised by a Sergeant. This section is responsible for the delivery of Crime Prevention, School Resource Officer Services, D.A.R.E. Programs, and a variety of community education and relations programs and services. The Staff Services Section is commanded by a Sergeant, who serves as the Recruitment Coordinator and performs other staff services duties, which may include, but is not limited to Quartermaster, Recruit Training, Mentor program and Training Coordinator Assistant.
Criminal Investigations Division The Criminal Investigation Division is commanded by a Lieutenant, who reports to the Support Services Bureau Commander. The Criminal Investigations Division currently has ten Detectives, two Sergeants and one Lieutenant. The Criminal Investigations Division is made up of three components: the General Investigations Section, The Special Investigations Section, and the Crime Analysis Unit. The General Detectives’ main function is to work felony cases and serious misdemeanors. The Special Investigations Section investigates many crimes including: drug complaints, sexual assaults, child abuse, and computer crimes. Special Investigations also includes one Detective assigned as a Victim’s Advocate. The Detective assigned to this position assists victims of domestic violence and sexual assault cases. The Crime Analyst collects data from calls for service and officer generated activity in an effort to keep all members of the Huntersville Police Department informed of crime trends and patterns of activity allowing for a proactive approach to many issues. During 2012, The Criminal Investigations Division conducted 707 investigations. Out of the 707 cases investigated 330 were cleared with a disposition.
Crime Analysis Unit The Crime Analysis Unit consists of one crime analyst who reports directly to the Criminal Investigations Division Lieutenant. The Crime Analyst collects, analyzes and disseminates information relevant to actual and anticipated criminal activity to increase effectiveness of personnel deployment, crime prevention, and apprehension of suspects. This unit is responsible for designing and preparing analytical reports, crime maps, and presentations for Departmental meetings as well as the general public. In addition to analyzing crime within the town, the Crime Analysis Unit is also tasked with analyzing traffic collision reports and compiling responses from Police Department surveys.
Special Services Division The Special Services Division consists of a School Resource/Crime Prevention Sergeant, four School Resource Officers, a D.A.R.E. Officer and a Special Services Lieutenant. These units report directly to the Lieutenant, who in-turn reports to the Captain. These personnel work eight and a half hour shifts and follow a five-day on two-day off work schedule.
Community Services Section Crime Prevention The Crime Prevention position is currently filled by a Sergeant. The Sergeant works eight and a half hour shifts and follows a five-day on, two-day off work schedule. This job requires that he develops, coordinates, and presents crime prevention programs in the community. He is trained in recognizing and appraising crime risk situations and targets programs based on analysis of local crime data. Other responsibilities include initiating positive action to remove or reduce crime risks to all citizens and proprietors, conducting security surveys, organizing crime prevention groups and conducting speaking engagements regarding safety and crime prevention issues. The Crime Prevention Sergeant participates in Crime Watch meetings, Safety Town, National Night Out and other crime prevention activities throughout the Town. In 2012 Crime Prevention personnel attended numerous Homeowners’ Association meetings and public events. Also in 2012, the section increased the Safety Town to a total of four weeks which taught 260 children about staying safe in today’s world. This year’s D.A.R.E. camps were enjoyed by 120 children.
School Resource The School Resource Unit is headed by a Sergeant that supervises the SROs for the Department. This Sergeant also heads up the Crime Prevention Unit. Each of our public middle schools and high schools have a resource officer. The resource officers are placed in the schools to help reduce the chance of crime, educate the students about the law and to answer questions and counsel on law related issues. The resource officers are also asked to respond to a number of different types of crimes that range from the simple traffic accident to armed robbery and sexual assault. This requires that the officers be independent and able to handle these situations without immediate direct supervision. The education and counseling portion of their jobs requires that they be knowledgeable in juvenile, criminal and traffic laws, have the ability to speak in front of large crowds and the compassion to deal with crime victims. When the schools are out for the holidays or for summer break, the officers are assigned to other areas of the Department such as assisting patrol watches by answering calls for service, D.A.R.E camp and Safety Town
DARE The D.A.R.E. Officer is assigned to cover four public elementary schools, one private elementary school, and one charter school. The D.A.R.E. Officer works an eight and a half hour shift and follows a five-day on, two-day off work schedule. It is the responsibility of the D.A.R.E Officer to administer the curriculum to the elementary schools in Huntersville. The D.A.R.E. program teaches fifth graders the dangers of illegal drugs, ways to avoid being pressured into buying or taking drugs and how to make overall good life decisions. During 2012, the D.A.R.E. Officer taught approximately 800 fifth graders from the six local schools.
Recruiting The Chief of Police has responsibility for the development of the Department’s recruitment and selection process in compliance with the needs of the Department and community as well as the applicable state and federal laws. The Chief of Police delegates the operational aspects of this assignment to the Staff Services Section Sergeant. This includes the management, implementation, and review of the Department’s role in programs and processes related to: recruitment, EEO, selection, compliance with ADA, and the reporting of this analysis. The Staff Services Section Sergeant is responsible for coordinating employment and background investigations for the Department and the Town of Huntersville as directed by the Chief of Police. The selection process for the Department is extremely competitive starting with an entrance exam and continuing with multiple interviews throughout the process. Interviews are conducted with all candidates that pass the entry test and background investigation in order to determine the best suited applicants for the vacant positions.
Special Units SWAT Team The Huntersville Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team consists of 11 members including a Team Commander, Team Leader and an Assistant Team Leader. The Crisis Negotiations Team (CNT) consists of 7 members including a Team Commander. Both teams train separately and jointly on an annual basis.
Honor Guard The Huntersville Police Department Honor Guard remains committed to the core values of Honor, Professionalism, and Dedication to Duty. The Guard represents the Department at special ceremonies and events. In addition, they do their best to honor the members of our noble profession that have made the ultimate sacrifice for their communities and our country.
In 2011, the Honor Guard presented colors at the annual Huntersville Memorial Day ceremony at Birkdale Village. Members of the Guard represented the Department in May during National Police Week and the service honoring all fallen Officers from Mecklenburg County. The Huntersville Police Department Honor Guard was established in 2001 and continues to enjoy a reputation as one of the finest Honor Guard units in the State.