Captain Pete Becker

SUPPORT SERVICES DIVISION

The Support Services Division provides many diverse functions that affects each member of the Florence Police Department. The division is responsible for providing the following services.

1. Training - The training units primary responsibility is to research, write and present all training to the officers of the Florence Police Department that is required by state statute and departmental policy. This includes basic, advanced and in-service training as well as legal reviews and officer safety tactics/issues. Training instructors utilize the latest in simulators as well as hands on training to effectively prepare our officers for duty. The training unit reviews actual incident reports, use of force reports and complaints along with state and federal trends to tailor each years training to address these issues. The unit also tracks each officers training and credit hours and submits these to the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy which insures each officer remains state certified. Training also manages and directs the field officer training program which closely trains and monitors new police officers during their probationary tenure.
    
2. Internal Affairs - Internal Affairs is the center for all received complaints regarding employees of the Florence Police Department. Once a complaint is received and logged it is throughly investigated. Results of these investigations are then forwarded to the Chief of Police who determines any action to be taken. Every Internal Affairs Investigation is treated with dignity, integrity, and honesty.
    
3. Court Security - The court security unit provides security to the judges, employees and citizens in municipal court. This unit also handles prisoners, reviews officer court cases and testimony as well as performing our yearly summons audit.
    
4. Jobs in Blue - This program enables each officer an equal chance to secure off duty security employment. Each request for service is routed through this program where it is staffed according to need using officers who have volunteered to work during their off duty hours.
    
5. General Services - The Support Services Division also provides these services:
   
   Background Investigations
   Job applicant interviews.
   Polygraph exams.
   Drug testing.
   Scheduling/upkeep of our training facilities and equipment.
   Use of force and pursuit reviews.
   Promotional assessments.