Hyattsville City Police Department
The Hyattsville City Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency in Hyattsville, Maryland in the United States, servicing a population of 17,557 residents and visitors within 2.7 square miles of the municipality. The Hyattsville City Police Department is an internationally accredited, full-service police department, which maintains its own 24/7 Emergency Communications Section. The current head of the agency is Chief Amal Awad.
Police department
On June 30, 2017, the Hyattsville City Police Department began providing dispatch services to the neighboring Mount Rainier City Police Department.Rank structure
The Hyattsville City Police Department is a paramilitary organization with a rank structure similar to the United States military. The ranks of Corporal through Lieutenant are based on promotional testing. The rank of Chief and Captain are appointed by the Mayor and Council.The Hyattsville City Police Department's rank structure is as listed:
| Rank | Insignia | Description |
| Chief Of Police/Colonel | The Chief of Police for the Hyattsville City Police Department holds the rank of colonel. The Chief of Police is the Agency Executive of the Hyattsville City Police Department and is appointed by the Mayor and the City Council for the City of Hyattsville, Maryland. | |
| Captain | The specific responsibilities of a captain are that as being assigned as the Deputy Chief of Police for the Hyattsville City Police Department. The Deputy Chief may serve as the Acting Chief if directed and authorized to do so by the Chief of Police, Mayor, or City Council. This position is appointed by the Mayor and the City Council for the City of Hyattsville, Maryland. | |
| Lieutenant | A lieutenant is generally responsible for commanding one of the three division's within the Hyattsville City Police Department which are Patrol Services Division, Special Services Division, and Administrative Services Division. A lieutenant can also act as the Chief or Deputy Chief of Police when authorized to do so by the Chief of Police. This position is appointed by the Mayor and the City Council for the City of Hyattsville, Maryland. | |
| Sergeant | Sergeants serve as squad commanders and shift duty officers. Sergeants also may be assigned to work within another division/unit within the agency. This position is appointed by the Mayor and the City Council for the City of Hyattsville, Maryland. | |
| Corporal | Corporals are the first line supervisors and are second in command for a patrol squad. In the absence of a sergeant, they may act as the squad commander and shift duty officer. Corporals also may be assigned to work within another division/unit within the agency. This position is appointed by the Mayor and the City Council for the City of Hyattsville, Maryland. | |
| Police Officer First Class | Officers who complete eighteen months of satisfactory service which, is also the probationary employment period are automatically promoted to the rank of Police Officer First Class. | |
| Police Officer | Officer Candidate's successfully completing the academy and field training are appointed as a Police Officer Private. |
Training academy
Members of the Hyattsville City Police Department are professional law-enforcement officers who must meet established standards and successfully complete a rigorous training program as required by the Maryland Police Training Commission. Officer candidates receive this training at the Prince George's Community College Municipal Police Academy, a fully accredited police-training facility located in Largo, Maryland. Officer candidates are expected to maintain physical and mental discipline throughout the academy.The standard training course covers subjects such as criminal and motor-vehicle law, accident investigation, first aid, abnormal psychology, traffic control, criminal investigation, defensive tactics, weapons qualifications and court procedures. Academy students are required to maintain a high academic standing during their twenty-four-week classroom training. Upon graduation, officers will have earned 15 college credits towards an academic degree and be assigned to Field Training Officers for an additional eight weeks of training. Thereafter, officers are eligible for assignment to any of the Hyattsville City Police Department's Patrol Squads.
Organizational structure
The Hyattsville City Police Department is currently divided into the following sections:- Patrol Division – The largest and most visible component of the Hyattsville City Police Department. The Patrol Division is commanded by a Lieutenant or above and is made up of patrol squads, each commanded by a Sergeant with assistance from a Corporal. Officers duties include but are not limited to responding for all calls for service, conducting area checks, investigating any suspicious activities, and enforcing motor vehicle laws within the city limits.
- Canine Unit - K9 Officers are assigned to patrol squads to assist with a variety of situations to include apprehending fleeing suspects and detecting narcotics.
- Criminal Investigation Division - The Criminal Investigative Division is composed of detectives who investigate major crimes within the city that require in-depth time and investigation.
- Emergency Response Team - The department's "SWAT" team. The officers that are assigned to the ERT are decentralized and are assigned to their respective squad or duty assignment. If the ERT is called for service those individual members assume their respective ERT duties.
- Community Action Team - The Community Action Team provides support and subject matter expertise in the area of crime prevention and avoidance. It conducts crime avoidance courses and welfare checks for businesses and residences. It also oversees the neighborhood watch program, D.A.R.E program, and provides a School Resource Officer that is assigned to a school and serves as a counselor, mediator, and problem solver between the school and the students that he or she has contact with on an everyday basis.
Specialized units and certifications
- Canine Unit
- Criminal Investigations Section
- Emergency Response Team
- Community Action Team
- School Resource Officer
- Field Training Officer
- Firearms Instructor
- Bicycle Patrol
- Segway Patrol
- Honor Guard
- Accreditation Unit
- Public Affairs Unit
- Crime Scene Unit/Evidence-Property Technician
- Technical Services Section
- Office of Accreditation & Professional Standards
- Electric bike Unit
Equipment