The City of Hollywood Police Department serves our residents by deploying interlocking divisions and units, each of which is specially trained and equipped to provide assistance in a range of our community's issues. Individual officers are assigned to a division and given training specific to address the different needs of our citizens.


The following links will take you to some of the specialized units within the Hollywood Police Department:

Criminal Investigation Division - including Investigative Services, Family Services, the Vice, Intelligence and Narcotics Unit and Crime Scene Investigations.

Special Operations Divison - including the Traffic Unit, Marine Unit, the Beach and Broadwalk Officers, the Downtown Unit, Neighborhood Officers and Special Events.


The following are brief descriptions of other units within the Police Department:

Uniformed Patrol Division
Uniformed Patrol is the backbone of the Police Department and follows the Department's Community Oriented Policing philosophy. Patrol Officers are assigned to zones which patrol specific areas of the city with all other Divisions and Units acting as a support structure for Patrol. This strategy provides the officers with an opportunity to familiarize themselves with their particular neighborhood's problems, as well as allowing the residents or business owners of a neighborhood to get to know the officers who work the area. The officers take pride in the neighborhoods they are responsible for and enjoy meeting residents and business owners. Uniformed Patrol handles the majority of the 140,000 police service calls which occur in the city each year.

In addition to responding to calls for service, Officers self-initiate police action by actively searching for and arresting individuals involved with drugs, prostitution, burglary, robbery, theft, gang activity, and other miscellaneous criminal activities. Uniformed Patrol Units are also the first to arrive on scene at all critical incidents.

The process is a collaborative effort. Uniformed Patrol Units who initially arrive at critical incidents handle the incidents directly or, if additional support is necessary, will stabilize the situation until support services, such as the Special Operations Division, the Criminal Investigations Division, the S.W.A.T. Team, the Crime Scene Investigations arrive to continue the investigation or the Mobile Command Center becomes necessary.

K-9
Police Canines are a valuable resource for use in criminal apprehension, evidence detection, search and rescue operations and for promoting favorable public relations.  Police dogs and their Police Officer handlers have extensive training and are an valuable asset to the Police Department.

Street Crimes
The Street Crimes Unit is comprised of dedicated and highly motivated detectives whose primary responsibility is to combat street level crimes, such as prostitution and related vice crimes, narcotics, robberies, burglaries, and violations that reduce the "quality of life" for a neighborhood.

Street Crimes detectives frequently assume undercover identities to accomplish their goals and work closely with citizens and confidential informants to resolve difficult problems. They are routinely called upon to adapt their schedules, appearance, and tactics as needed, often on very short notice. The myriad of assignments and constantly changing nature of work makes an assignment to the Street Crimes Unit a highly sought after duty, and is an example of the Hollywood Police Department's effort to make the most efficient use of available resources.

Crisis Negotiation Team
In all critical incident situations, the protection of human life is the Agency’s top priority.  Whenever possible, the Department will attempt to resolve critical incidents through communication and negotiation.  The Crisis Negotiation Team is used in an attempt to contact hostage takers, barricaded persons, or other
persons involved in a critical incident.  Their objective is to resolve the incident peacefully through communication and negotiation.

SWAT
The Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) consists of Police Officers that provide specialized services in support of the Hollywood Police Department's mission. Their main goal is to provide protection and safety for innocent civilians and Police personnel while reducing the possibility of injuries or death at high risk incidents such as sniper situations, barricaded suspects, hostage situations, dignitary protection,  civil disturbances, search & arrest warrants, armed suspects and narcotics raids.  The Officer's assignment to the SWAT Team is voluntary and is an additional responsibility to their normal duties.

Dive Team
The Dive Team coordinates with the numerous divisions within the police department in the underwater search and recovery of vehicles/evidence. The Dive Team also works with the U.S. Coast Guard, and supports other state and local governmental agencies with the safeguarding of Port Everglades and numerous waterways in the city.

Hollywood police divers have certifications to include: Police/Public Safety Diver, Dive Master, Rescue Diver, Dive Accident Management, Oxygen Administration, Police Wreck Diving, Police Underwater Photography, Full Face Mask/Dry suit  Diver.