Divisions

Patrol & Operations

Patrol Officers maintain social order through enforcement of local and state laws. Patrol Officers are also tasked with being timely in their response to calls for service, preliminary investigation of criminal offenses, apprehension of offenders, enforcement of traffic and parking laws, furtherance of crime prevention efforts through interaction with citizens, and a deterrent presence. Patrol and Operations is the largest division of the Hillsborough Police Department. The Patrol and Operations Division includes all specialty assignments within its ranks.

Investigations

The Investigations Division of the Hillsborough Police Department investigates more serious crimes committed within the community. The division’s primary function is to identify and apprehend criminal offenders. Detectives assigned to the Investigations Division handle a variety of complex in-depth investigations, including but not limited to financial crimes, computer crimes, sexual assaults, burglaries, robberies, narcotics, and homicides.

The investigative process often involves a coordinated effort among local, state, and/or federal law enforcement agencies. Detectives assigned to this division do so by working cooperatively with other units within the Police Department and other municipal departments, as well as the entire community. The Investigations Division consists of a Detective Corporal and two Detectives. These officers are assigned to the division full time in order to facilitate all investigations that result from any serious or complex criminal cases.

Traffic Unit

This is a specially-skilled unit whose primary function is traffic enforcement. Motor officers may be tasked with the added responsibility of funeral or dignitary escort. Officers qualify through a basic motor officer school, and they consistently train and re-qualify annually. They work independently and are expected to aggressively enforce traffic laws.

K-9 Unit

The Hillsborough Police Department utilizes canines that are fully trained in search, apprehension, officer protection, and either narcotics or bomb detection. A police K-9 is an extremely valuable tool in law enforcement. The use of a strategically deployed K-9 team can save hours of time for police officers because a K-9 team can conduct a search quickly and effectively, resulting in increased officer safety, the apprehension of dangerous suspects, and increased safety to citizens. In addition to their regular duties, the K-9 teams also spend a great deal of time training to maintain a maximum level of efficiency as a team.

The Hillsborough Police K-9 Unit also provides K-9 demonstrations and education to community groups, depending on date, time, and availability of the K-9 Team. The K-9 demonstrations are designed to portray the skill involved and the work performed by the K-9 team on a daily basis, plus it gives both children and adults an opportunity to gain knowledge and ask questions about the K-9 Unit. Basic obedience, agility, article search, simulated criminal apprehension, and mock narcotic searches are conducted free of charge. The one-on-one interaction encourages children and the community to build trust toward officers and to learn drug awareness. The value of these exhibitions has proved immeasurable for everyone.

We require that you provide us with all the details, including advance notice, so appropriate dates can be scheduled. Emergencies arise, and the K-9 team may have to cancel any engagement to assist their community or other communities in their work. If this occurs, we apologize, and another date may be arranged.

Special Weapons & Tactics (S.W.A.T.) Team

The Hillsborough Police Department S.W.A.T. team consists of highly trained officers that are required to be on-call at all times. The S.W.A.T. team specializes in high risk operations which include arrest team tactics, extraction tactics, less lethal deployment, entry tactics, distraction tactics, counter sniper operations, and dignitary protection.

Evidence Technicians

These officers are specially trained in photography, evidence collection, latent fingerprint collection, and crime scene processing.

Defensive Tactics Team (Support Services Division)

This team is made up of officers specially trained to instruct weapon deployments, tactical searches, ground fighting, defensive tactics, force continuum, pressure point control techniques, tactical formations, use of collapsible batons or wooden batons, training in chemical agent use, and building searches.

Field Training Officers (Patrol)

Carefully selected officers who train the newly hired police recruits. These officers are selected for their outstanding professional attributes and technical and tactical proficiency, and they must represent the highest caliber of officers of the Hillsborough Police Department.