Patrol Division

The Patrol Division of the Alvarado Police Department is the largest and most visible division within the police department. Citizens and visitors coming to, or passing through, the City of Alvarado can expect quality service from the certified professional officers assigned to the Patrol Division. 

Patrol operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.  Members of the Patrol Division are the first responders to emergency calls. In addition, the Patrol Division performs proactive police patrols, provides an initial investigation of suspected crimes, enforces laws and ordinances, provides traffic control and enforcement, and makes reports of offenses.  While many of the patrol officer's duties are reactive, the officers of the Alvarado Police Department Patrol Division take great pride in their proactive approach toward law enforcement, stopping many crimes before they happen or while they are occurring.

The Patrol Division is led by a Patrol Lieutenant who commands four shifts of officers.  Each shift is supervised by a Sergeant.  A patrol shift is a 12-hour rotating shift: 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.  

New officers joining the Alvarado Police Department start their careers in the Patrol Division. They receive extensive training in law, criminal procedure, de-escalation, cultural diversity, traffic enforcement, emergency operations, and investigation, as well as a wide variety of other skills.  This versatility is highlighted in the specialized units within the Patrol Division: 

1. Field Training Officer Program
2. Traffic and Accident Investigations
3. Drone Program 
4. Critical Incident Response
5. Commercial Vehicle Enforcement