The Port Bowen Police Department is a typical big-city police force, similar to those in LA, Boston, NYC, or any other large city in the United States. It is well-funded and wields an enormous amount of power within the city limits. Most of their officers patrol the streets and waterways of the city, trying to keep people safe. Which people they protect – and how safe they want them – is often debated. That said, its corruption tends more toward complacency than persecution.
To the supernatural community, the police are the teeth of a sleeping dragon. Most of the time, the cops can safely be ignored. When they can’t, there are ways to work around them or even to work with them without giving anything away. But if they aren’t managed carefully, every officer exposed to the changeling world is a ready-made hunter with deadly skills.
So far, the freehold has remained unnoticed. Only a few officers are aware that their city holds anything more than the mundane world. The rest of the force is kept in the dark, thanks to the ongoing effort of a few dedicated changelings.
¶ Policies on Use of Force
Officers of the PBPD routinely use some force when apprehending suspects. Their escalation of force doctrine mirrors the national standard of 5 levels:
- Officer presence
- Verbal commands
- Empty-hand control - pressure points, holds, and unarmed strikes
- Less-lethal methods - pepper spray, beanbag munitions, taser, baton, etc.
- Deadly force
The PBPD uses preservation of life -- officers, bystanders, and suspects -- as its main goal when making policy decisions about use of force. It has received some criticism for not requiring its officers to de-escalate dangerous situations, nor to report incidents where fellow officers used excessive force when dealing with a suspect.
¶ Ranks
¶ Officer
Officers are the most visible part of the force. They patrol the streets and make arrests Officers are all lumped into a single rank. Their salary increases with each year of tenure in the force.
¶ Detective
Detectives perform more in-depth investigations than officers. Detective is not actually a higher rank than Officer and have no command authority, though they're generally paid more.
An officer who wishes to become a detective must pass a difficult examination. Those who pass gain the new rank of Detective Grade 3. Progression up to Detective Grade 2 and eventually Detective Grade 1 is done in a similar way.
¶ Sergeant
Sergeants are the first supervisory rank. They have authority over a squad of officers and provide them with direction and support.
A sergeant in charge of a squad of detectives has the title Supervisor, Detective Squad. This rank is abbreviated Sgt. SDS.
Sergeants within the Bureau of Administrative Services have the rank of Deputy Inspector, but their responsibilities are no different.
¶ Lieutenant
Lieutenants are in charge of a precinct or other grouping of multiple squads.
Within the Bureau of Field Services, there are a few Lieutenants who command multiple detective squads. They have the title Commander, Detective Squad, abbreviated Lt. CDS. Other bureaus don't have enough detectives to need anyone in this special role.
Lieutenants within the Bureau of Administrative Services have the rank of Inspector, but their responsibilities are no different.
¶ Captain
Captains command an entire district with multiple precincts, or are in charge of another logistically large group.
¶ Deputy Superintendent
The deputy superintendents are second-in-command of a bureau, or directly in charge of a division within a bureau. They provide support and coordination between multiple different captains and lieutenants.
This is the first administrative rank, and serves at the pleasure of the Commissioner. Deputy Superintendents are rarely replaced for political reasons, unlike some higher positions.
¶ Superintendent
Superintendents are in charge of an entire bureau within the PBPD. They serve at the pleasure of the Commissioner and are sometimes replaced for political reasons.
¶ Superintendent in Chief
Superintendent in Chief is the highest rank within the PBPD. They are responsible for coordinating the actions of all of the bureaus within the PBPD. They serve at the pleasure of the Commissioner and are sometimes replaced for political reasons.
¶ Commissioner
The Commissioner is the civilian head of the PBPD. They are appointed by the mayor every five years.
¶ Organization
The responsibilities of the PBPD are split into four bureaus, plus the Office of the Police Commissioner. Each bureau handles one aspect of policing the city, with units and divisions within each bureau dedicated to specific kinds of police work.
¶ Bureau of Field Services
Led by Superintendent David Hale.
The Bureau of Field Services is responsible for finding and handling dangerous and unlawful situations in the city. It has a few dedicated units and divisions -- including Special Operations -- but the bulk of its capability comes from its zone, district, and precinct commands. These commands span the entire city and are home to most of the officers in the PBPD.
¶ Special Operations
Led by Deputy Superintendent Matthew Espinosa.
The Division of Special Operations handles the less mundane tasks on the street. The highway patrol, SWAT, bomb squad, and K9 unit all fall within Special Operations.
¶ Bureau of Investigative Services
Led by Superintendent Paul Bradshaw.
The Bureau of Investigative Services takes over from Field Services once a perpetrator has been arrested. They are responsible for gathering evidence and doing other work to create and support a case. This bureau works closely with the District Attorney's Office.
¶ Division of Family Justice
Led by Deputy Superintendent Michelle Best.
This specialized division handles some of the most disturbing cases faced by the PBPD: human trafficking, sex crimes, crimes against children, and domestic violence.
¶ Office of the Police Commissioner
Led by the commissioner, Dale Williams.
The Office of the Police Commissioner is the official public face of the PBPD. Its media liaisons make press releases, lobby the city and state legislatures, and arrange certain public outreach programs.
¶ Port Bowen Regional Intelligence Center
This special division within the Office of the Police Commissioner collects and analyzes local and regional intelligence. It gets most of its funding from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and shares its findings with that agency.
¶ Bureau of Administrative Services
The Bureau of Administrative Services provides various support services to the rest of the PBPD, like payroll, IT systems, purchasing, and fleet maintenance. It employs mostly civilians instead of academy-trained police officers.
¶ Bureau of Professional Standards and Development
This bureau manages the training and testing of members of the PBPD, as well as the enforcement of department rules.
¶ Anti-Corruption Unit
This unit handles financial and similar crimes. It's part of the Bureau of Professional Standards and Development to avoid conflicts of interest with anyone in the Bureau of Investigative Services.
¶ Law Enforcement Oath of Honor
The oath sworn by every officer and elected official upon entering the force.
On my honor, I will never
betray my badge, my integrity,
my character or the public trust.I will always have the courage to hold
myself and others accountable for our actions.I will always uphold the
constitution, my community,
and the agency I serve.~ International Association of Chiefs of Police