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(c) 2004-2012 City of Altoona
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Police Department

MISSION OF THE ALTOONA POLICE DEPARTMENT

All members of the Altoona Police Department are committed to the professional delivery of law enforcement products to our residents, businesses and visitors. We acknowledge that the public trust requires us to act in an honorable, unbiased and impartial manner toward all people with whom we have contact. Realizing the broad scope of our sworn duties, we strive to meet and exceed the expectations of those we serve.

In 1995 the department embraced the concept of Community Policing. Police generalists now provide services that once were limited to police specialists as more responsibility for addressing crime and crime causation has been placed on our uniformed patrol officers. The department's structure has slowly flattened to emphasize an operational responsibility to solve problems at the community level. Police service in Altoona is founded on a growing partnership with our citizens.

Tactics to address crime take a basic two-fold approach:

  • Accountability to the community as we focus on prevalent types of crime.
  • Reduction of unfounded fears of being victimized.

Members of the Patrol Division will, in most circumstances, be the first to become aware of a need for police services. A safe and appropriate response to calls from the public will assure that officers arrive on the scene in an efficient manner, able to address the demands of the moment.

Members of the Criminal Investigation Division will, in most circumstances, become primarily involved in detailed or lengthy case investigations. Officers of this division possess a high level of knowledge concerning evidence collection and protection, interview and interrogation skills, investigative technique and case management.

The police department features the following specialized programs: DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education); Officer Friendly; Crime Prevention; Neighborhood Watch; Blue Star Homes; Vacation House Checks; Alcohol & Tobacco Enforcement Programs; STEP (Specialized Traffic Enforcement Programs); Drug Enforcement Task Force and Joint Terrorism Task Force officers; Police Chaplaincy; Adopt-A-Cop and Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies-based Standard Operating Guidelines.

Police Department Staff