NCJ Number
204304
Date Published
2003
Length
56 pages
Annotation
This 2002 annual report highlights the activities, achievements, and challenges of the Gaston County Police Department (North Carolina).
Abstract
The Gaston County Police Department has 137 sworn officers and 85 non-sworn employees. Three major divisions comprise the organizational structure of the Department: the Community Policing Division, the Public Safety Communications Division, and the Investigative and Support Services Division. The Community Policing Division is organized into three geographical zones; 24-hour service is provided by officers working 12-hour rotating shifts. The Public Safety Communications Division is made up of telecommunicators and their staff and the Investigative and Support Services Division is divided into many components that deal with the various aspects of criminal investigation. In November 1991, the Gaston County Police Department became internationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. The report presents the mission and value statements of the Department, the community involvement report, and a description of national crime facts for the year 2002. Tables and graphs offer information about crimes in Gaston County for 2001 and 2002, by crime type. According to this data, there were a total of 5,917 crimes committed in Gaston County during 2001, compared with 5,593 crimes committed during 2002. Next, information about police personnel is offered, including a listing of employees who have had continuous service, beginning in 1973 through 2002. Information on the budget reveals that the Gaston County Police Department had a budget of $9,186,598 for fiscal year 2002 through 2003. Information on the accreditation process is presented, followed by an administrative review of complaints received against the Department; during 2002, 7 complaints against the Department were sustained, 7 were unfounded, 11 were not sustained, and 17 were exonerated. Next, narrative and statistical data on each of the 3 main divisions is presented, beginning with the Public Safety Communications Division which recorded a total of 412,042 calls for service in 2002. The Community Policing Division presents narrative information about its activities, followed by a series of descriptions about units within the Investigative and Support Services Division, such as the Emergency Response Team (ERT), the K-9 unit, and the crime scene search unit. Finally, a description of the Gaston County Police Department’s problem oriented policing projects is included. Tables, figures