Administrative and Support Services Division

The Independence Police Department’s Communications Unit provides 24-hour coverage for enhanced 9-1-1. It is the primary answering point for all emergency calls and dispatches for police, fire and animal services. The unit monitors the Independence School District camera system, and the cameras in the jail. The unit maintains high standards and continues to improve by attending continuing education at the Mid-America Regional Council. The unit also supplies an instructor for several classes offered at the Mid-America Regional Council. The unit utilizes the Document Management System to maintain and remain familiar with unit policies and procedures.

Other telecommunicator responsibilities include:

• locating responsible persons by telephone for any type of call when police or fire personnel at an incident scene determine such a response is needed,
• wants and warrants computer inquiries in local, regional, state, and national criminal data bases,
• TDD emergency call telephone system for hearing-impaired persons,
• preparation and mailing of billings for false alarms,
• creating and responding to law enforcement network teletype requests,
• establishing and maintaining mutual aid communications with surrounding jurisdictions,
• participation in Citizens’ Police Academy instruction.

The Detention Unit is a short-term holding facility that receives and processes adult prisoners arrested by officers in Independence, and in other jurisdictions on Independence municipal warrants. Prisoners are kept in a secure environment until their lawful release. Juveniles that are arrested are not held in the jail facility, but their paperwork is processed by Detention Unit staff.

The Detention Unit is a 19 bed facility that temporarily holds inmates up to 36 hours. Inmates that spend more time than 36 hours or are committed by the court are sent to a contract detention center until released. The Detention Unit processed 9,914 inmates in 2022. The Detention Officers book arrests, photograph offenders, and collect DNA samples in compliance with State Law.

The Records Unit staff consists of 22 staff, two supervisors and one administrator. The front desk has a total of 8 employees who maintain the desk area and serve the general public by completing police reports, and answering questions. The Records staff has nine employees to provide technical contact work in the processing of reports for a variety of records including stolen autos, missing persons, fraud, and forgery. The Warrant Service staff’s two employees handle receiving and returning warrants, subpoenas, and other pertinent court and jail papers. The Record Unit provides and disseminates various police reports for officers and for the general public. They provide information from internal and external data bases concerning criminal records and warrant information. In 2022, the records unit accomplished the following:

• Entered 176,780 warrant checks;
• Handled 74,028 desk reports and customer assistance to the public
• Handled 126,994 telephone inquiries;
• Handled 36,828 mail and fax inquiries;
• Collected $767,914 in bond money for Independence and outside agencies.

The Fiscal Management Unit is supervised by the Fiscal Administrator. The Fiscal Administrator's staff is responsible for the overall financial activities of the Police Department. This includes the development of the operating budget for the Department; monitoring and administering the approved budget; long range financial planning and forecasting; capital outlays; and inventory control of all, equipment and supplies. All equipment and supplies for the Department are ordered through the Fiscal Unit.

The Training, Recruiting and Media Affairs Unit is responsible for insuring that all personnel within the Independence Missouri Police Department maintain the highest levels of training. This unit is also responsible for reviewing all Department training programs, developing new programs, and coordinating with other agencies and other training organizations to provide Department personnel with the highest quality of training available. This includes the development of a block training program attended by all sworn officers. The Training Unit is responsible for insuring that all officers maintain their State P.O.S.T. certification. In addition, the Training Unit oversees the Field Training Officer (FTO) program for all new officers, Civilian Employee Orientation, the Crime Prevention Unit and the Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS).

The Public Information Officer(s) serves as a central source of information for the media of newsworthy information. The Public Information Officer meets with police staff and media representatives to address news media requests and to provide updates on current investigations. In addition, the Public Information Officer responds to all major incidents and coordinates the release of information to the public. The department has two Crime Prevention Officers who responsibilities including coordinating adult crime prevention education, the neighborhood watch program and the Volunteers In Police Services program. They also handle numerous community affairs related functions. Officers from this unit also operate and maintain the Department's social media capabilities including its Facebook page, Twitter account, and YouTube page.

The Unit is responsible for the investigation and review of all new applicants for positions within the Police Department. Once a position opening occurs within the Department, the Professional Standards Unit works closely with the City's Human Resources Department to seek qualified applicants to fill that position. Job qualifications are reviewed and a job description is developed. The position is then advertised and applications are accepted. The Professional Standards Unit is responsible for overseeing this testing and for conducting background investigations into each applicant. Each year the Professional Standards Unit reviews more than 400 applications for law enforcement and civilian positions.

In addition to oversight of the hiring process, the Professional Standards Unit is responsible for the investigation of all citizen complaints. All internal investigations involving allegations of misconduct are coordinated through this unit. The Professional Standards Captain works directly under the Chief in investigating any allegation made regarding a Department member. By their nature, these investigations are very thorough and intensive.