Administration

It is the duty of administration personnel to ensure that all officers and employees are effectively performing their duties and to provide them with all support and equipment they may need to better serve the citizens and visitors of Scottsboro and monitor any problem areas within the city that needs to be addressed by police personnel.

Detective Division

The detective division investigates all crimes that are reported by citizens. They also conduct covert type investigations of known criminals or crimes that are known or suspected but not reported by citizens. The detectives are highly trained in the field of evidence collection, the operation of investigative tools or devices and interviewing and interrogation of witnesses and suspects of crime. Their cases are assigned from a pool of case reports that are usually submitted by patrol officers on behalf of reporting victims. The cases are then assigned in a rotation manner and the detective follows up on the case in an effort to make an arrest. The detective is responsible for presenting the case to the grand jury for felonies or municipal court for misdemeanors. The detective follows the case throughout the judicial process.

Uniformed Patrol Division

The function of the uniformed patrol division is to answer calls for service, enforce vehicular traffic laws, investigate traffic accidents, check suspicious persons or vehicles and patrol residential and business areas within the police jurisdiction. The uniformed police officers are highly trained in all aspects of law enforcement and conducts preliminary investigations at crime scenes. They are in essence, the first responders to calls for service and upon their arrival they assess the crime and make a decision to call for other necessary support.

Housing Authority Police

The Scottsboro Police Department has obtained a Drug Elimination Grant by means of the Scottsboro Housing Authority. The grant is mainly used in the public housing areas but benefit our entire city with community policing.

Officer David Hancock, heads up the Housing Authority Division and has formed several Community Groups in Scottsboro. He also coordinates The Scottsboro Citizen Police Academy which is held annually and is an eight week program with thirty students in each session. He interacts with youths in our neighborhoods and teaches them alternatives to drugs and gangs as well as administering activities for senior citizens within the community.

The main goal of the Public Housing Division is to become more personally acquainted with the residents, listen to their problems, complaints and provide any possible solutions This is done in an effort to stop crime before it happens. The officers also patrol housing areas along with investigating all crimes that occur in the area.

Quote from the Past

"The police are the public, the public are the police. The police are only the members of the public who are paid to give full time attention to duties that are incumbent on every citizen in the interest to community welfare and existence." Sir Robert Peel, 1829

School Resource Officer

The school resource officer's duties consist of patrolling public schools within the city limits. The officer also investigates all crime or incidents within the school system and assists faculty and students with any problems that may arise. The officers most important function is to provide students with a positive role-model and to develop a working relationship between students and the police. The officer provides a number of proactive programs and measures to insure a safe environment that is conducive for teachers to teach and students to learn.

Communications

The communication officers are responsible for answering all incoming calls for assistance in the city as well as all 911 emergency calls throughout Jackson County and dispatch the appropriate agencies and resources required to help the caller. The communication officer also assist the police officers and emergency personnel with information support.

City Jail

The corrections officers are responsible for the intake of prisoners brought into the jail by police officers. They also guard and attend to all the needs of all prisoners.

Animal Control

The animal control officer enforces all leash and tag laws within the city limits and investigates all reports of neglect and attacks against people by domestic animals. The animal control officer is responsible for the operation of the animal shelter that houses and cares for unwanted or found animals.

School Traffic Control

The school traffic officers are responsible for all pedestrian and vehicular traffic that occurs around city school areas during the beginning and ending of each school day.