SUPPORT SERVICES
Community Services
The Community Services Specialist is responsible for organizing and maintaining community based services, such as:
- Crime Prevention Education
- Neighborhood Watch,
- Citizens Police Academy
- Volunteer Program
- Youth Task Force
- Community Juvenile Diversion Program
- Bicycle Giveaway Program
Communications/Dispatch
Paso Robles Police Department Dispatch Division proudly serves the community with the highest degree of professionalism. Dispatch is responsible for the receipt, disposition, and the documentation of telephonic and radio calls in both routine and emergency matters for both Police and Fire Departments. Dispatch is also responsible for handling all “9-1-1” calls generated within the City. The Dispatch Division is currently staffed with six full-time Public Safety Dispatchers and four part-time Dispatcher Assistants that answer and process three emergency (9-1-1) lines, eight non-emergency lines and several radio frequencies.
The Dispatch Center is staffed 24 hours a day. It is the responsibility of the Public Safety Dispatcher to accurately, and as quickly as possible, identify the nature of your call and assist in solving the problem. The dispatcher is the critical link between the citizen and the police officer, as they are responsible for screening calls and transferring that information to the police officer and emergency personnel.
Because each incoming call is unique and can vary from a request for general information to a report of a life threatening incident, the dispatcher must ask specific questions to accurately prioritize the call and assign it to a police officer. The dispatcher’s most important focus is officer and citizen safety. The faster this critical information is obtained determines how quickly an officer is able to respond.
Paso Robles Police Dispatchers strive to render the highest level of service, working side by side with the community. When requesting services for non-emergency/non-life threatening situations, we ask the public to keep in mind that emergency calls have priority over non-emergency calls and response time is determined by call volume.
If you are interested in sitting alongside a Dispatcher,
download a Communications Sit
Along Request Form. For more information, see the Ride
Along/Sit Along Program information on the
Programs Page.
Investigations Bureau
The function of the Investigations (Detective) Bureau is to perform follow-up investigations into serious and involved crimes that cannot be handled by patrol alone. Police detectives typically receive preliminary investigations, assess leads, contact witnesses, interview suspects, prepare and serve search warrants, and prepare cases for presentation to the District Attorney.
Most detectives work normal business hours, wear business attire, and drive unmarked vehicles.
They are classified as police officers, and have all the discretionary powers to stop, detain and arrest that uniformed officers have. Detectives do not normally take initial reports of crimes, although they are always available to the public for questions, advice, and to receive information regarding crimes. Detective assignments are typically made for a period of 3–4 years, require substantial and successful prior police patrol experience, and represent an important development point in an officer’s career.
The Paso Robles Police Department Investigations Bureau is comprised of one Sergeant
(Bureau Commander), three detectives working crimes against property and persons, one
detective assigned to (NTF), San Luis Obispo County Narcotics Task Force and a Property/Evidence Technician.
Police Cadets
The Police Department employs seven part-time Police Cadets. The function of the
Police Cadets is to offer support to the Divisions within the Police Department.
Three are assigned to the Records Division, two work as Code Enforcement Specialists
in the Patrol Division and one is assigned to the Detective Division as a Property
Technician. As part-time employees, the Police Cadets are required to work a total of
999 hours in a fiscal year. They are also provided with the proper training in order
to perform their specialty assignments.
Records Division
The purpose of the Police Records Division is to keep track of the crime reports, traffic collision reports and citations that the officers generate. The Records Division has various responsibilities critical to the proper functioning of the police department. They perform departmental law enforcement record keeping, input of computer data and general clerical support duties, such as:
- processing of police reports providing information to the District Attorney, Courts, and Juvenile Probation
- maintain, control, and purge police records
- input computer information concerning suspects, crimes and traffic citations;
- process and collect fines for parking citations
- compile crime statistics for city, state and federal agencies; locate and copy police reports for individuals, private attorneys, county agencies and insurance companies
- research records to assist other law enforcement agencies conducting background investigations; prepare clearance letters; process subpoena requests
- maintain various activity logs
- perform Live Scan (electronic fingerprinting)
- assist the general public at counter and on the phone
- issue Alarm Permits - Commercial & Residential (application)
The Records Division also accepts bail monies, processes warrant requests, prepares receipts and reconciles department cash drawer and petty cash. They process accounts payables/receivables, prepare purchase order requests and process payroll timesheets for the department.
A Support Services Coordinator, two Records Clerks, four part-time cadets and seven volunteers staff the Records Division.
The Support Services Coordinator and the Records Clerks are required to complete a state mandated 40-hour class and be specially trained in the proper handling and safeguarding of criminal justice information. They continually attend classes and training sessions given by different agencies to enhance their knowledge in all aspects of their field. The part-time cadets and volunteers are also provided with the proper training required to conduct their daily duties.
The Records Division handles numerous procedural questions every day from citizens
about law enforcement and the legal process. Please check our
Frequently Asked Questions page.
