The Office of the Chief is comprised of the Internal Affairs Unit, Policy Development and Accreditation, Office of Media and Community Relations, Finance & Business Management Unit (Procurement, Grants, Alarms Management) and an Executive Officer who oversees special events, off-duty details and the agency’s fleet.
The Internal Affairs Unit is responsible for maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and integrity within the agency by the impartial review of complaints generated within and outside of the agency.
The Policy Development and Accreditation Unit conducts and oversees staff inspections of all divisions, and provides for the ongoing review and update of the agency’s policies and procedures in accordance to Florida State Statutes and the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation. The Boynton Beach Police Department was first accredited in 2001, and has been reaccredited every years since. The agency earned the esteemed Excelsior status in October 2016.
The Office of Media and Community Relations is responsible for the providing the public and news media information in accordance with Florida Public Record Laws. The Public Information Officer also oversees the agency’s social media and coordinates community engagement events.
Crime Prevention is responsible for developing, coordinating, and implementing a variety of crime prevention strategies, safety and community relations programs for the department. The unit does Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) surveys for businesses. They also run the Juvenile First Offender (JFO) Program to help reduce juvenile recidivism.
The Finance & Business Management Unit coordinates the department’s purchasing, accounts receivable, payroll and proper billing as it relates to alarm permitting and contractual services. In addition, this unit is responsible for asset forfeiture and identifying and managing grant opportunities to better serve the community. Finally, preparation and monitoring of the department’s budget are a major responsibility.
The Executive Officer is responsible for coordinating and managing the safety and security of the community at all special events hosted by the City of Boynton Beach. In addition, the Executive Officer oversees all off-duty contractual police services, and the ensuring the regular maintenance, repair and oversight over the agency’s fleet.
The Support Services Division is comprised of Police Information Technical Services, as well as two sections, Investigative and Staff Services.
Police Information Technology Services (ITS) is responsible for the technology, applications and systems that further the mission of the police department, including computer aided dispatch, records management, field reporting, criminal intelligence sharing and analytics. ITS is committed to leveraging technology to provide innovative solutions and support in a timely and cost-effective manner.
The Investigative Section includes the Major Case and Crime Scene Unit, Special Victims Unit, Financial and Property Crimes and Animal Control Unit, Narcotics Unit, Task Forces, NIMS, and Trends and Analytics.
The Special Victims Unit (SVU) investigates cases of sexual abuse, physical abuse, and the neglect of children or elderly. Detectives, within this unit, are a dedicated group of professionals that deal with intensely personal, difficult, and emotionally charged situations while maintaining their professionalism in order to investigate, apprehend, and prosecute offenders. SVU investigations are most often coordinated with public resources such as victim advocacy, Palm Beach County Sexual Assault Response Team (SART), Child Protection Team (CPT), Department of Children and Family (DCF), and other local, state, and federal agencies.
The Violent Crimes Task Force (VCTF) is a hybrid investigative unit responsible for both addressing and curtailing violent crime and for suppression of narcotics/drug trafficking, criminal conspiracies, distribution and sale of narcotics.
Task Force Officers are assigned to the Palm Beach County Sober Homes Task Force, the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, the DEA’s Task Force, and the United States Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force. The assignment of detectives to these task forces provides the city with access to county and federal assets to address the opioid epidemic, drug offenses, threat and terrorism matters, and violent fugitives having a nexus to the City of Boynton Beach.
The Trends & Analytics Unit is responsible for gathering, analyzing and disseminating both criminal and intelligence information to assist officers and detectives with their investigations. The unit further informs the command staff on crime patterns, trends and statistics which allows the intelligence led direction of the department’s assets and personnel to address emerging threats and crime trends.
The Financial Crimes and Property Crimes Unit is tasked with conducting investigations into thefts, frauds, forgeries, burglaries and similar property offenses. The unit is focused on closing investigations for the residents and business owners of Boynton Beach whom have been the victim of these crimes. The unit frequently participates in intelligence-directed operations in neighborhoods and along business corridors that are experiencing a rise in property offenses in an effort to solve cases and combat future property crimes.
The Animal Control Unit is responsible for investigating and taking appropriate enforcement action in regards to violations of state and local animal cruelty laws. The Animal Control Investigator is not a police officer, but may exercise the power of arrest, and file arrest warrants. The unit works collaboratively with Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control to provide animal care and shelter to animals in need.
The Major Case Squad & Crime Scene Unit is composed of highly skilled and trained detectives assigned to handle the most egregious and sensitive offenses occurring in the city. The unit’s primary responsibility is to investigate person’s crimes such as homicides, robberies, aggravated batteries and assaults, and other violent offenses.
The Crime Scene Unit consists of highly-trained professional staff investigators who provide 24-hour crime scene processing and evidence collection services to the department’s officers and detectives. Crime Scene Investigators preserve, document, collect, and process evidence that will be presented in court. The investigators also provide in-house latent print and DNA collection for evidence analysis.
The Staff Services Section includes the Records Unit, Communications, Evidence, and Training and Recruitment.
The Records Unit processes crime reports, accident reports, public records requests and arrest paperwork. Records compiles statistical reports submitted to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and statutorily required reports to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
The Communications Center is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and works to provide immediate, professional and impartial response to emergency calls for service.
The Evidence Unit is responsible for the care, custody and control of property recovered by the Boynton Beach Police Department. This includes, but is not limited to, items of evidence, found property, recovered firearms and currency.
The Training and Recruitment Unit is responsible for providing exemplary training to our officers and professional staff members that is consistent with and follows all guidelines set forth by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The unit is also tasked with the recruitment of personnel.
The Uniform Services Division is comprised of Road Patrol Operations, SWAT and Community Services, which includes Crime Prevention, the Neighborhood Officer Program, Marine Safety, Community Response Team, K9, Traffic Safety, Education and Enforcement, Honor Guard and the Reserve Program.
Road Patrol responds to all initial calls for service and begins all investigations into reported crimes. The City of Boynton Beach is divided into 11 patrol zones that are staffed by the Road Patrol Division. The division works in four shifts, two dayshift and two nightshift. The department employs a community-oriented policing philosophy, where officers are assigned to the same zone each day and responsible for identifying potential and active criminal activity, as well as quality of life issues that affect the community.
SWAT is a team of highly trained operators who are deployed to address hostage rescues, barricaded gunman, high risk warrant service and wanted subject apprehension, high risk security operations, and special assignments and other incidents which exceed the capability and or capacity of patrol and investigative units.
The Neighborhood Officer Program is tasked with cultivating high levels of mutual trust, understanding and respect between the police and the residents. To achieve this, it is necessary to develop relationships which transform the confines of ordinary community policing activities and instead focuses upon building sustainable partnerships.
The Marine Safety Unit assists with waterway patrol, search, rescue, surveillance, support other agency components, and other appropriate marine-related activities. The unit promotes boat safety and education, preserving natural resources, lawful fishing and other aquatic pastimes by enforcing statutes, ordinances, regulations governing the City’s waterways.
The Community Response Team (CRT) is tasked with combating crime through problem-oriented policing. They assist other units within the agency especially road patrol with combatting nuisance crimes such as street-level narcotics, prostitution, loitering & prowling, and auto-burglaries.
The K9 Unit aids in the detection of criminal activity and the apprehension of criminal violators, as well as the recovery of evidence, contraband, firearms, currency, lost or missing persons and explosives detection.
The Traffic Safety, Education and Enforcement Unit, is tasked with maintaining traffic safety and ensuring the efficiency of the roadways. This is accomplished by educating the public as well as enforcing traffic law via the issuance of warnings and/or citations. They manage accidents, specifically major crashes involving serious bodily injury and/or death. They also ensure the safety of children enforcement of school zones.
The Honor Guard provides a ceremonial escort at the funeral of a fallen officer. The Boynton Beach Police Honor Guard. under the direction of Captain Paul Deale consists of 20 officers dedicated to preserving this tradition. At a moment’s notice, the unit can be mobilized to attend the funeral of an officer killed in the line of duty anywhere in the State. The Police Honor Guard also serve as “guardians of the colors”, protecting the flags displayed at ceremonial functions. Lastly, they are ambassadors to the public, presenting a positive image of the police department.
The Reserves Unit voluntarily assists the Police Department when such augmentation is essential to public safety and welfare.