The Police Department is one of the most visible of city services, but many members of the public are unaware of the numerous and varied duties the Police Department performs.
The Communications Unit consists of 2 Communications Supervisor, 12 Police Dispatchers, and 3 Police Services Technicians. Together they perform all of the Police Department's communications and record-keeping tasks, including:
Patrol Division
The most frequently seen members of the Police Department are the uniformed patrol officers who serve the city in our black and white patrol cars. These officers are only one segment of the more than 150 full-time, part-time and volunteer personnel who make up the Police Department.
Investigations Unit
Members of the investigation Unit consist of a Service Commander, Services Lieutenant/PIO, and Services Sergeant. There are currently 6 full-time detectives with one being an anchor detective for the La Mesa Police Department.
They routinely conduct serious and high profile crime investigations, oversee police-regulated businesses, and represent the Police Department as full-time members of the Narcotics Task Force (NTF), the Regional Auto Theft Task Force (RATT), and the Special Investigations Unit.
Traffic Unit
The Traffic Unit conducts traffic enforcement operations throughout the city, enforces parking ordinances, and investigates traffic collisions
.
School Resource Officers
The La Mesa Police Department, in conjunction with the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District supports a School Resource Officer, or "SRO",
to work with elementary and middle schools in La Mesa. The SRO devotes their time to school campuses, acting as liaison with staff, parents, and students, serving as role models, providing instruction and staff training, and insuring campus safety. The SRO is trained as an instructor in the Project Alert Program, which is taught in partnership with teachers at the middle school level.
Downtown Operations Assistants
Downtown operations assistants are tasked with enforcing parking regulations within Parking District 1 (downtown) and other areas of the city on an as-needed basis, assisting with the implementation of Parking Permit Program and with assisting city
Public Works staff to facilitate street cleaning operations. In addition, downtown operations assistants serve as ambassadors for the city and are a valuable assistance resource for business owners and visitors with questions or concerns.
Reserves
Reserve police officers are members of the community who receive the same training as full-time police officer, but volunteer their time to the Police Department.